Sigh! I am finally admitting to myself that a trip to London is not happening this Spring and I will not be able to view the major hat exhibition that is currently at the Victoria & Albert Museum. Entitled “Hats: An Anthology by Stephen Jones”, the exhibit encompasses l7 centuries of millinery and includes hats from the V&A permanent collection, the Stephen Jones label, as well as private collections. It runs through May 31, 2009.
In case you aren’t familiar with the work of British milliner Stephen Jones here is a brief bio:
The Milliner Stephen Jones
Stephen Jones studied fashion at St Martin’s School of Art. His early millinery designs were influenced by the colorful and glamorous New Romantics (think Boy George) who populated London in the 1980’s. Since then he has produced hat collections under his label ‘Stephen Jones Millinery’, while also collaborating with designers including Jean Paul Gaultier, Vivienne Westwood, John Galliano, Comme des Garçons and Marc Jacobs.
Jones for Marc Jacobs Spring 2009
Basically, the V&A allowed Jones access to their hat collection and he spent a year looking at thousands of hats. He says:
“The criteria for selecting hats were surprisingly straightforward: a delicious brim line, spectacular detailing, an intriguing provenance, designs that somehow linked past, present and future.”
Model Erin O'Connor in Jones
If you’re also unable to go, you can console yourself with some fabulous resources that are associated with the exhibit. I just ordered the hardcover book
Just $27 at Amazon!
and spent time enjoying all the photos and videos on the V&A website. There is a great clip “Creation” on the making of the top hat worn by Jones in the above photo. And fun shots of his assistants at work in the clip entitled “Stephen Jones.” Enjoy!