Four head-turners for the Bettys set
Harrogate milliner Jenny Roberts, who has a shop and studio at Cold Bath Place, and went to view the hats at the Royal Pump Museum, says: “It’s exciting to view these designs up close, with beautiful workmanship and practically invisible hand stitching, lovingly created for those lucky ladies of Yorkshire who wanted the latest couture fashions. Also, to think of the history of couture in Harrogate, where garments and millinery were designed and made to a client’s specific requirements. Today we make everything using couture techniques, hand blocking and hand stitching in a similar way to how these hats would have been created.”
Jenny says: “The striking blue felt beret has been carefully stored. This is a cut and sew hat put together from pattern pieces and finished with a black wool edging below a moss green Petersham ribbon. I can imagine this worn with a mini dress by a Harrogate girl channelling her inner Twiggy. Berets seem to take different forms and are so versatile as they can be trimmed in so many different ways, casual or trimmed up for formal occasions. The beret will continue to evolve.”
Jenny says: “An usual silk velvet hat which is partially blocked to form the shape, then pieced together to create the pork pie crown top. Probably worn at the slant over the front of the head, this hat would have been more day than evening and with its substantial lining would have been ideal for the colder months.”
Jenny says: “Each of the orange spike flower petals is actually a biot feather from a goose, painstakingly put together to form the flower and finished with a black chenille spot as the stamen. On a base of Dior net, a material often used as a foundation, this hat would have been surprisingly light to wear. It’s topped with beautiful silk veiling which would have added a slight allure to the wearer and would definitely have been a headturner.”
A 1960s embroidered pillbox with cabochon rose trim. Jenny says: “This would have been worn on the back of the head with a hatpin. Pillboxes have had a revival among our younger customers, perhaps harping back to the chic days of Jackie Kennedy wearing the Halston pillbox, but more recently worn by the Duchess of Cambridge and Megan Markle.”