"Hats make people feel good, and that's the point of them."
— Philip Treacy
Simple. Direct. Perfect. Strip away all the fashion theory, the history, the craftsmanship talk, and this is what it comes down to. Hats make people feel good. End of story.
Not just the wearer, either. Hats make everyone feel good. The person wearing it feels confident and special. The people around them feel cheerful, inspired, and curious. A hat at a party lifts the mood of the entire room.
This is why racing carnivals are so joyful. It is not just the horses and the champagne. It is hundreds of women (and men) in beautiful hats, creating an atmosphere of celebration that nothing else can match.
"When I finish a hat and the client puts it on for the first time, there is always a moment of pure joy. That moment is why I do this."
— Kathryn Lee
Worth Knowing
Treacy was awarded an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in 2007 for his services to the British fashion industry. The honour recognised not just his creative genius but his role in reviving public interest in hats. He has said that his greatest achievement is not any single hat, but making people want to wear hats again.
