High-Fashion Hats and the Women who Made Them

This post is sponsored by Saint Louis Art Museum.

One of the things I love about living in St. Louis is the wonderful opportunities to engage in diverse cultural experiences. And, last Tuesday, I was reminded of that when I attended press night for the Degas, Impressionism, and the Paris Millinery Trade exhibit at the Saint Lois Art Museum. This exhibition, which runs through May 7, is a celebration of high-fashion hats and the women who masterfully created them.

Press night brought together a varied crowd of St. Louisians, including some of my blogger friends, for an after-hours look at this new St. Louis art exhibit. Could there be a better way to explore art?

I was most excited, though, by the reason we were there—the artwork. We essentially got a peek inside the world of high-fashion hats, seen through the eyes of Edgar Degas and a few other Impressionist artists. From the hands that created the exquisite hats to the women who wore them, the pieces in the exhibit offer a dynamic and colorful portrayal.

I was first introduced to the work of Degas via his piece on the aerialist Miss La La. So, I entered this exhibition with a keen eye, looking particularly at the ways Degas chose to present the strength and perhaps vulnerabilities of women.

I was thrilled that this exhibition also features period hats that flaunt the exquisite skills of milliners. The details alone—ribbon, straw, bird carcasses, feathers, and other materials—confirm that milliners are artists in their own right.

Fellow fashion lovers will certainly enjoy this exhibition. Fellow creators will enjoy this exhibition. If you are reading this post, you’d enjoy this exhibition.

For more information: Degas, Impressionism, and the Paris Millinery Trade

Thanks to Elizabeth Wiseman for the photographs.