Louis Bou - Couture Hats From the Outrageous to the Refined

The Milliners Stephen Jones for John Galliano Image courtesy of John Galliano Stephen Jones for John Galliano Image courtesy of John Galliano Hats! What an adventure through straw and felt, plastics and paper, hope, and dreams. In this wonderful book, Louis Bou charts the myriad of talented milliners working around the world today, from America to Spain to Japan to Britain. What unites us all? Of course, the love of our mtier, but also a wanderlust of exploration of 3-D forms whether narrative or abstract. A panoply of suggestion in each sweeping brim, each trembling feather, each scented flower. It is never easy to create beauty. As much as millinery is a fabulous art, it is craft too and we all burn the midnight oil making and remaking that damn hat, striving for perfection that looks effortless and elegant, dramatic and sublime.

This book is a tribute to millinerys varied creators, who frequently against sensible advice, somehow became embroiled in couture hatsmaybe the most esoteric, but certainly the most exciting and visible of accessories. Never before have so many great names been joined together, which I hope negates that often heard diatribe: Oh you are a milliner, well people dont wear hats anymore, do they? Stephen Jones Stephen Jones wearing one of his hats Photography: Justine Philip Treacy was born in the Galway village of Ahascragh, West Ireland. The son of a baker and a housewife, he had seven sisters and brothers. He moved to Dublin in the mid-80s to study fashion at the National College of Art & Design, and there he created his first hats to go with outfits he designed. In 1988 he was accepted into the MA fashion design program at the Royal College of Art in London, and in 1989 he took one of his hats to Michael Roberts, fashion editor of Tatler magazine, and his style editor, Isabella Blow. In 1990 Treacy graduated from the Royal College of Art with honors and set up a workshop in the basement of Isabella Blows house on Elizabeth Street.

Blow wore many of Treacys hats, introduced him to designers such as Valentino and Karl Lagerfeld, as well as fashion editor Andr Leon Talley of Vogue . In 1991 Treacy established Philip Treacy Ltd. From there, his career took off. He went on to win the title of Accessory Designer of the Year at the British Fashion Awards for many years, and in 2006 he was awarded an honorary OBE for services to the British fashion industry by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall. Now one of the worlds most famous hat designers, Treacy has designed hats for Alexander McQueen, Givenchy, Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, Valentino, Ralph Lauren, and Donna Karan. His clients include Madonna, Celine Dion, Joan Collins, Goldie Hawn, and Boy George, just to mention a few.

He designed Sarah Jessica Parkers hat for the film premiere of Sex and the City , hats that were worn in the Harry Potter films, and a number of the glorious hats worn at the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. www.philiptreacy.co.uk Photograph by Philip Treacy for Tatler magazine. All images courtesy of Philip Treacy unless otherwise indicated. Philip Treacy haute couture show in Paris White and black silk hat Photography: Philippe Kerlo Illustration by Philip Treacy Madonna hat in natural straw Photography: Philippe Kerlo Illustration by Philip Treacy Hand blocked mini beano headpiece Photography: Philippe Kerlo Sweeping dome in sinamay hat Photography: Philippe Kerlo Hand blocked gondola shape hat Photography: Philippe Kerlo Hand blocked couture boat shape hat Photography: Philippe Kerlo Swirly bow in lurex sinamay headpiece Photography: Philippe Kerlo Philip Treacy and his muse, Isabella Blow Photography: Kevin Davies Philip Treacy in his studio Photography: Kevin Davies La Dame Bleue headpiece
Philip Treacy for Alexander McQueen Photography: Catwalking Illustration by Philip Treacy Philip Treacy hat for Givenchy Haute Couture by Riccardo Tisci Spring/Summer 2011
Model: Jiang Xiao yi at Silent Photography: Kristine Thiemann
Images courtesy of Givenchy Haute Couture by Riccardo Tisci Philip Treacy hat for Givenchy Haute Couture by Riccardo Tisci Spring/Summer 2011
Model: Jiang Xiao yi at Silent Photography: Kristine Thiemann
Images courtesy of Givenchy Haute Couture by Riccardo Tisci Philip Treacy haute couture show in Paris Illustration by Philip Treacy Philip Treacy haute couture show in Paris Illustration by Philip Treacy