When Anya Taylor-Pleasure stepped out in Jacquemus’ Le Chapeau Bomba—a joyfully oversize raffia hat—at this 12 months’s Cannes Movie Pageant, it grew to become clear that the accent is that this season’s final assertion. On the autumn 2024 runways, Chanel and Prada have been amongst these affirming the hat as the brand new regular. Assume: Sarah Jessica Parker’s supersize model by Maryam Keyhani, which she wore on the set of And Simply Like That… earlier this 12 months, or Margaret Qualley in Chanel’s nautical model at Cannes. These are hats for principal characters. They take up area, proudly standing as a proclamation of private model that anybody can spot properly earlier than they even strategy you.
Altuzarra’s fall 2024 assortment got here full with boxy toppers on a few of the fashions’ heads. “There was a personality that we have been making an attempt to evoke,” says designer Joseph Altuzarra. “It was…[about] the pleasure in sporting a full look, inhabiting a personality.” It was additionally the primary time the label did hats, other than extra informal knit and woven types. “We didn’t intend to promote them,” he admits, “and we bought quite a bit.”
Likewise, the milliner Gigi Burris O’Hara has seen a spike in demand. She began her model Gigi Burris in 2012, however solely opened her first retailer late final 12 months. “In leaner instances, when issues pull again, it’s a chance for folks to seek out pleasure and have a extra thought of spend,” she says.
After years of dressing down, we’re discovering ourselves drawn to all issues expressive. The maximalist content material creator Sara Camposarcone has been leaning into items from small labels like Potion23, identified for its whimsical, witchy hats. “I really feel like I can put on bolder headpieces to match my extravagant outfits,” Camposarcone says. “As I’ve been launched to classic vogue, I can’t assist however go loopy for a terrific classic pillbox or a Nineteen Twenties fascinator.”
Unbiased manufacturers like Burris’ have been pumping out iconoclastic hats for years. Take Sideara, which produces its signature velvet pillbox types topped off with baby-size satan horns. “You possibly can search privateness behind a netted veil,” says designer Sideara St. Claire, “demand boundaries with a large brim.”
Contemplate the hat an on the spot jolt of private model gratification. And keep in mind: Generally you don’t select the hat, the hat chooses you.
This story seems within the September 2024 problem of ELLE.
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Kristen Bateman is a contributing editor at Harper’s Bazaar. Her first vogue article was printed in Vogue Italia throughout her junior 12 months of highschool. Since then, she has interned and contributed to WWD, Glamour, Fortunate, i-D, Marie Claire and extra. She created and writes the #ChicEats column and covers vogue and tradition for Bazaar. When not writing, she follows the newest runway collections, dyes her hair to match her temper, and practices her Italian in hopes of scoring 90% off Prada on the Tuscan shops. She loves classic buying, dessert and cats.