Mutli-hued feathers on a silk-covered headband, the “Tina” Fascinator by Giovannio is $235 at Proper Topper, 1350 Connecticut Ave. NW.
A handmade raffia crochet with sun-protective cotton canvas brim from Helen Kaminski’s Kiloli collection is $195 at www.helenkaminski.com and at Dalton Brody, 3412 Idaho Ave. NW.
This classic topper ($125, www.helenkaminski.com and Dalton Brody, 3412 Idaho Ave. NW) is elegant enough for a day at the races.
Exchange your old, ratty baseball hat for this wraparound cap ($135, www.helenkaminski.com and Dalton Brody, 3412 Idaho Ave. NW) with a digitally printed abstract floral design.
A fascinator made of wide ribbons intertwined with vintage gray tulle and feather butterflies set on a headband ($148, www.ciaonina.com).
A fascinator of vintage millinery flowers and veil netting features an elastic band to tuck underneath hair and perch your hat in position. $162, www.ciaonina.com
“Amelia” Floppy by Diva Hats ($180, Proper Topper, 1350 Connecticut Ave. NW and www.propertopper.com)
Silk petal flowers and a spray of feathers adorn this statement-making “Cora” Wide Brim by Christine A. Moore. It’s $415 at Proper Topper, 1350 Connecticut Ave. NW and www.propertopper.com
Charmingly retro A.A. Abrams asymmetrical straw cloche hat with ostrich feathers, $80 at Goorin Bros., 1214 Wisconsin Ave. NW and www.goorin.com.
YOU SAY YOU DON’T look good in hats? Nonsense, says Nina Caccioppoli O’Neil, D.C. -based designer of a line of handcrafted hair accessories called Ciao Nina.
“You just haven’t figured out the best shape and color for your face and how to style your hair,” says O’Neil, who always wears some sort of hair ornament, even if it’s only a bobby pin. Her job as a curatorial assistant in the French paintings department of the National Gallery of Art makes her keenly aware about how to balance a composition.
O’Neil especially enjoys creating fascinators, which she refers to as cocktail or party hats. For millinery material, she “scours the earth,” hunting down vintage ribbons, flowers, feathers and veils from antique stores, estate sales and overseas trips. “There’s always a gala or an event to dress up for in Washington, and hats add that extra layer of polish to an outfit.” Women spend lots of time looking for shoes. If it were up to O’Neil, they’d do the same for hats.
You don’t always need an occasion, but now that it is finally spring, there are plenty of festive events — think Gold Cup, the Kentucky Derby, Mother’s Day — to encourage a search for that perfect piece of headgear.
See our slideshow above for some head-turning suggestions.
— Janet Kelly
Just like London! Love, it!