HATS OFF!
LECTURE EXAMINES THE ARTISTRY OF HATS THROUGHOUT HISTORY

WHEELING, W.Va (August 5, 2009)- -Since their invention, hats have come and gone as status symbols, uniforms and bold fashion statements. Their purpose has evolved from function to fashion and back again. In recent decades, hats and the artistry of hat making have made a strong comeback – everywhere from high fashion to street fashion.

The next program in Oglebay Institute’s Seven Sundays to Remember Lecture Series looks at the changing styles, artistry, popularity, methods and materials used to make hats.

“Hats Off to the Artistry of the Milliner Past and Present” takes place at 1p.m. August 23 at the Mansion Museum in Oglebay and is presented by Amy Hamilton, owner/artist of Granville Millinery Company in Granville, Ohio. Hamilton sells all types of custom-made hats out of her studio located in a renovated 1859 farmhouse. Her clientele is an eclectic group, encompassing wedding goers, Kentucky Derby attendees, members of the Red Hat Society, and individuals who truly wish to express their individuality. She has been profiled in the Oprah Winfrey magazine, O At Home, and her hats have been featured in dozens of magazines including Italian Vogue, Capital Style, V Magazine, Sophisticated Living, Country Living and Harper’s Bazaar.

“Like all fashions, hat styles have changed throughout history and reflect not only the mood of the wearer but also the spirit of the time,” Oglebay Institute director of museums Christin Byrum said. “The form and function of hats vary greatly from protective headgear to the crowing jewel of an outfit. This program is a wonderful opportunity to learn about this aspect of fashion history from an expert milliner like Amy, who is on the cutting edge of her craft.”

The word “milliner,” a maker of women’s hats, was first used in the 16th century and referred to the products such as ribbon, felt and straw for which Milan and the northern Italian regions were well known. The haberdashers who imported these highly popular goods were called “Millaners” from which the word was eventually derived.

Although hats have been present in society since ancient times, it wasn’t until the 17th century that women’s headgear emerged in its own right. From the very large bonnets of the 19th century to the 1920s’ cloche, which hugged the head like a helmet and complemented the flappers’ short, geometric hair cuts, hat wearing and hat design remained popular until the 1950s when ready-to-wear clothes and large, teased hairdos greatly decreased the need for milliners. However, the 1980s saw the beginning of a hat revival. This renewed interest in women’s millinery was ignited, to a large extent, by the enthusiasm for wearing hats demonstrated by many public figures such as the late Princess Diana. Many new hat designers emerged and began an innovative and diverse period for hats.

“Millinery is certainly a changing art,” Byrum said. “Old methods are being enhanced thanks to innovations in technology and materials, and the artistry of hat design is as intriguing and inspiring as ever.”

Titled “Passion for Fashion” the 2009 Seven Sundays Lecture Series celebrates historic and contemporary fashion and serves as a companion program to Dressing Wheeling From the Inside Out: 1840-1910, the current exhibit on display in the Mansion Museum. A complete list of lectures, speakers and dates follows:

August 23 “Hats Off to the Artistry of the Milliner Past and Present,” presented by
Amy Hamilton, owner/artist Granville Millinery Company, Granville, OH

Sept, 27 “Heights of Fashion: A History of the Elevated Foot,” presented by
Elizabeth Semmelhack, Curator, Bata Shoe Museum, Toronto, Canada

October 11 “Petticoats, Pantaloons and Painters: Costumes in Art,” presented by
Nancy Huth, Curator of Education, Taft Museum of Art, Cincinnati, OH

The admission fee is $10 per person, which includes admission to both the Mansion and Glass Museums. All guests are invited to continue on and browse through either or both of the museums after the lecture. Members of Oglebay Institute receive a discount.

For more information or to register for any of the programs, call the Mansion Museum at 304.242.7272.