The Magical Experience Of Millinery Salon.

It is with great sadness I realize that in the modern world true experience of the Millinery Salon is no longer accessible as widely as it was accessible several decades ago. While working on the interior of my own Atelier, I went to great length to make sure that the Atelier of my dreams will embody a concept of what real Millinery Salon should be - a magical place, a site of transformation, were love affair between a lady and a new hat occurs.

Just few decades ago, atmosphere in the Millinery Salon was filled with an air of femininity and grace following by seductive ritual of very first fitting. The introduction to a new hat was nothing short of a grand ceremony when female customer would be sited in front of a beautiful mirror while milliner would take a responsibility of fitting her with a beautiful hat. Most Millinery Salons, in Europe especially, had lavish, well lit window displays.

The art of displaying hats in certain manner in the windows of any Millinery Salons was critical. They always involved the science of color to assure that hats displayed in each window attract attention. Observed by any lady who would be passing by, the seduction of displayed hats would be the beginning of magic. Parisian milliners, of course, were masters of creating magnificent experience. Historian Bianca M. Du Morter wrote in her book "Chapeau,Chapeaux!" that admittance to Parisian Salons was possible only through the recommendation of existing client.

The choice of hats was usually made on the first visit to the Salon and once the order was placed, the client would have to come two more times for fittings. Salons were run on a very hierarchical basis, where often only the most loyal or favored customers would be allowed to see the full range of available hats.

Wealthy American buyers in France often complained that they were treated as second class customers. A New York Times reporter in Paris wrote in 1914: "This designers know just to whom to show certain hats. They know who should not be let into the inner rooms. You can tell by the location you are given just what your value is to the premier vendeuse .. And it is not a question of money!" Well, it is true. Frenchwoman somehow do have more flair and style when it comes to wearing hats.

This gorgeous picture is courtesy beautiful Bonjour Madame.

One of the most elaborate Millinery Salons in history of Fashion was created by Lilly Dache who built her eight store "House Of Hats" near Park Avenue in New York in 1937. She had silver fitting room for brunette celebrities and a gold one for blonds. Pure luxury.... As I am trying to do my part in bringing back the experience of Millinery Salon, I will never stop repeating that choosing a hat is more often is not a matter of minutes, especially to those customers who are unsure of what they want.

Hats are one of the most powerful accessories: they transform personal style in an instant. I do advise all of you, who love wearing hats, to give yourself a gift of visiting Millinery Salon.

I know, they are almost impossible to find now but they do exist. And if you don't find Millinery Salon in your city, I invite you to visit mine. :-) Unique experience... What can be more exclusive than brilliant handmade pieces? Slightly changing the words of ever so fabulous Lilly Dache I would say: "Beautiful hat is what makes a man ask for your telephone number. But it also is what makes a woman ask for the name of your Milliner.” :-)

Sources of info for this post: book by Bianca Du Morter "Chapeau, Chapeaux!", book by Stephen Jones "Hats an Anthology"