"Hats have always been a symbol of change, a harbinger of the future."
— Philip Treacy
Think about the moments in history when hats signalled something new. The cloche in the 1920s announced women's liberation. The pillbox in the 1960s signalled modern elegance. When Jean Shrimpton arrived at Flemington in 1965 without a hat, that absence itself was a statement about changing times.
Treacy's own work has been a harbinger too. His sculptural, gravity-defying creations showed the fashion world that millinery was not a relic of the past but a living, evolving art form with as much relevance as any runway collection.
Today, the resurgence of headbands, oversized straws, and architectural fascinators at racing carnivals across Australia shows that hats continue to reflect where fashion is heading.
Fun Fact
Treacy's career was launched when Isabella Blow, the legendary British fashion editor, spotted his graduate collection at the Royal College of Art in 1990. She wore one of his hats out of the show. That moment began one of fashion's most celebrated partnerships, and Blow remained his greatest champion until her passing in 2007.
