Hats by Madame Paulette, Paris Milliner Extraordinaire

Hats by Madame Paulette

Paris Milliner Extraordinaire

by Annie Schneider

Thames and Hudson Publisher

On the cover: An asymmetrical straw with a sweeping brim

Madame Paulette by Studio Harcourt

Madame Paulette was Paris’s “queen of milliners.” Born in 1900, this famed headwear designer learned her trade between the wars, and by the forties and fifties her hats crowned the heads of everyone who was anyone in Paris, and were increasingly sought by the rich and famous around the world. Film stars such as Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, and Audrey Hepburn were some of her most ardent fans, as well as royalty, including Princess Grace of Monaco and the Duchess of Windsor.

Hats by Madame Paulette will appeal to fashion experts and aficionados of fine millinery alike, providing an essential guide on the most indispensable fashion item of the mid-twentieth century; no woman would consider herself formally dressed without a hat. In addition to celebrities vying for Madame Paulette’s creations, fashion photographers clamored for her designs. Included here are photographs from Avedon, Newton, Horst, and Klein, as well as film stills of the hats she designed for Cecil Beaton that appeared in My Fair Lady and Gigi. 

An assortment of Madame's equisite Creations
Photo Credit: Image by Vauthey-Sigma-Cortis

Madame Paulette made sure each hat designed was entirely bespoke, never two alike. She used every trim at her disposal, voiles, netting, feathers, flowers and more. This was an era where women of refined taste desired a hat to match with every outfit, from luncheon attire to evening elegance. 

One of Madame's much desired pleated Turban Styles which she also designed with lovely scarves hanging off to one side, glorious!
Photo  Credit: by J. M. del Moral

The famed Paris Couturiers came to Madame Paulette for her hats, including Balmain, Pierre Cardin, Feraud, Guy LaRoche, and Emmanuel Ungaro. When Madame was in her eighties she still designed her creations for Thierry Mugler and Claude Montana.

A fabulous pillbox hat by Madame Paulette worn with a dress by Jean Desses
 Photo Credit: J.M. del Moral

Madame Paulette creates a red and white fur hood for blustery winter days! Photo credit TopFoto

Her creations for  stage and screen were wonders of workmanship and design. Millinery for Gigi, My Fair Lady, specifically for Cecil Beaton, for Leslie Caron and Audrey Hepburn made history!

Left: Black Velvet Chignon Cover with Ostrich Feather Pom-poms and Veil

Right: A cascade of petals in Black Organza
Photo Credit: TopFoto

Please purchase Hats by Madame Paulette, Paris Milliner Extraordinaire by Annie Schneider

Copy courtesy of Harry Burton of Thames Hudson

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xoxo

Karena

The Arts by Karena

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