"Hats are a symbol of elegance and sophistication, a timeless accessory that never goes out of style."
— Coco Chanel
Coco Chanel understood something fundamental about hats: they are not seasonal trends or passing fancies. They are a form of elegance that transcends time.
"A beautifully made hat from the 1940s still looks stunning today, and a hat made in 2024 will still turn heads in 2050. Very few accessories can claim that kind of staying power."
— Kathryn Lee
This idea sits at the heart of everything I create at Kathryn Lee Millinery. When I shape a hat on a vintage block from the 1920s and pair it with modern materials and contemporary design, I am doing exactly what Chanel described: keeping something timeless alive in a way that feels completely current.
Elegance is not about following rules. It is about knowing who you are and wearing that confidence on your head.
A Little History
Chanel herself was famous for her simple, elegant hats, often paired with tweed suits and pearls. She proved that a hat does not need to be dramatic to be powerful. Sometimes the most sophisticated statement is the quietest one.
