"There are certain houses that one cannot enter without a hat. And one must always wear a hat when lunching with people whom one does not know well. One appears to one's best advantage."
— Coco Chanel
Chanel wrote this in an era when hats were everyday essentials, not occasional accessories. But her point still holds. There are occasions where a hat is expected, appreciated, and transformative. The races. Weddings. Garden parties. Royal events. And at all of them, wearing a hat shows respect for the occasion and for yourself.
The phrase "one appears to one's best advantage" is pure Chanel. Practical, direct, and absolutely correct. A hat makes you look better. It frames your face, adds structure to your silhouette, and tells the room you have made an effort.
"I love that Chanel saw hats as both social courtesy and personal advantage. That combination of grace and strategy is very French, and very smart."
— Kathryn Lee
If you have an event coming up and you are wondering whether a hat is appropriate, the answer is almost always yes. Browse the racing collection or the bridal range for inspiration.
A Little History
Chanel opened her first hat shop, "Chanel Modes," on Rue Cambon in Paris in 1910. It was hats, not dresses, that launched her empire. Her early designs were simple straw boaters and felt cloches that stood in stark contrast to the elaborate, heavily trimmed hats fashionable at the time. She proved that elegance lay in simplicity, and that lesson defined her career.
