Look At These Hats

Look at these hats that have flown all the way from London, England, via Australia just to grace our shores!

In 2009, Stephen Jones and Oriole Cullen began a curious but timely project for the annals of the renowned Victoria and Albert Museum. Specifically, from Stephen Jones’ (milliner extraordinaire) point of view, overseen by the astute curatorial eye of Ms. Cullen, this show would track and document the wherewithal of the hat amongst us. Fait accomplit: the show Hats:an Anthology by Stephen Jones, wowed them at the Victoria and Albert, and went on to boffo performances in Australia .From then ( 12th Century ) until now (as worn by Brad Pitt and other celeb noggins) hats chosen for their vivacity, their cunning in confection, magic and whimsicality have joined forces in an overwhelming tour de force for the hat.



As an accessory, known by most civilians as the cap seen at way too many malls in America, or the fedora that has become every wannabe hipster’s uniform, little has been done to expound upon the vast language of hat. Hat as we know it in contemporary society is a thing that our grandmothers (or even great-grandmothers) wore to church. Not the first choice of today’s bride even, the hat/headpiece has been relegated for too long to that dusty top shelf of the closet.

Time to come out of the proverbial closet, o Hat, and show thyself. Here as an ambassador of this diplomatic tour, Hats: An Anthology by Stephen Jones serves as an all-encompassing historical overview of the hat you-would-never-be-caught-dead-in, to the hat you-covet-with-every-fiber-of-your-being.

Babe Ruth, our national hero, is here via his baseball cap. FDR calls in with a tip of his silk topper. Andy Warhol’s wig shakes itself out and poses for a quick Polaroid. Dozens of popular culture references abound amongst hats with centuries of pedigree. The newer members of the hat clan in this exhibit hail from New York City, with contemporary ( Andreas Swaenpoel, Patricia Underwood, Eugenia Kim, Jennifer Ouillette, Lola, Rod Keenan and yours truly), tossing their hats into the ring to fully represent what the yanks have to offer. There’s a generous portion of Mr. Jones’ own archival pieces that showcase his imaginative genius, from runway to model hat-dom.

Hats made from skin (animal), here. Hats made from paper, here. Hats made from every conceivable material in the most ingenious way, here.

As a gung-ho hat show, this will entertain, and educate the common man and the collector. The scope of the show proves how much even a hat aficionado can learn. And if it doesn’t spark a little light over your head that blinks “buy a hat,” I’ll tip my hat to you, indeed! Hat shopping anyone?

The Bard itself is an architectutral gem of a townhouse, off Fifth Avenue, and has dedicated 3 stories of its gallery spaces to this exhibit. There’s an elevator, but no gift shop or café, so dine before or after. As a special treat, a beautifully edited book, co-authored by Mr. Jones and Ms. Cullen, and published by the V&A, is available for purchase, with limited editions signed by Mr. Jones himself.

The Bard graduate Center is located in New York City at 18 West 86th Street, between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue.  Gallery hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The admission fee is $7 general, $5 seniors and students (with valid ID); admission is free on Thursday evenings after 5 p..m. For more information about the Bard Graduate Center and upcoming exhibitions, please visit @bgc.bard.edu