Sculptural Hat

Sculptural Hat – The term sculptural can be applied to many different hat styles. By definition sculptural is usually three-dimensional and sculptural hats typically have bodies that have been manipulated into different shapes and forms or have attached components.

As an art form, hats may be described as sculptural by means of shape, materials used and in terms of proportion. From the headdresses of ancient Egypt to the tribal hats of Africa to the often Turkish-inspired creations of the Renaissance to the 1980s elaborate church hats and 1990s fascinators, these types of hats are part of our fashion history.

Some of the best examples of sculptural hats are found in the surrealist creations by Elsa Schiaparelli in collaboration with Salvador Dali, the mid-century dramatic turbans and cloches by Christian Dior and, later, Philip Treacy’s wildy inventive flights of millinery fancy.

c 1925 Jeanne Lanvin sculptural hat

Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

1930s sculptural wool hat

Courtesy of poppysvintageclothing

1936 Sally Victor wool sculptural hat

Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

1940s Milgrim sculptural black felt hat

Courtesy of thespectrum

1940 Elsa Schiaparelli sculptural hat

Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

1940s sculptural hat

Courtesy of poppysvintageclothing

1940s sculpted felt hat

Courtesy of dorotheascloset

1943 Sally Victor sculptural hat

Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

1940s sculptural felt toque

Courtesy of thespectrum

1940s sculptural straw hat

Courtesy of poppysvintageclothing

1940s Helen Yoffe sculptural hat

Courtesy of poppysvintageclothing

1940s sculptural hat

Courtesy of poppysvintageclothing

1940s felt sculptural hat

Courtesy of cmpollack

1940s sculptural hat

Courtesy of Alleycats

1950s sculptural hat

Courtesy of bycinbyhand

1950s Hattie Carnegie straw sculptural toque with berries

Courtesy of Blue Velvet Vintage

c 1965 Halston silk sculptural hat

Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

1970s Jack McConnell sculptural hat

Courtesy of BonniesVintageClothesLine

1980s asymmetrical sculptural hat

Courtesy of alleycatsvintage

1980s Sylvia sculptural flower hat

Courtesy of BonniesVintageClothesLine

1990s sculptural hat

Courtesy of BonniesVintageClothesLine

1980s Kokin New York sculptural felt hat

Courtesy of poppysvintageclothing

2000 Philip Treacy sculptural hat

Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art