A milliner is a person who makes hats. He may only make hats, but he is more than likely also the designer. In the past, a milliner made hats for everyone, young and old, male and female; however, in recent years, he has become best known for serving a predominantly female clientele.
Millinery, in its most literal sense, refers to any business that manufactures and sells clothing, as well as hats, to men, women, and children. It could also apply to the items of clothing themselves. Customers in the 1800s and 1900s would go to the local milliner to buy clothing for the entire family, much like they would in a modern department store.
Milliners were frequently tasked with transforming a customer’s old clothing into an entirely new wardrobe. From the hand-me-downs, creative milliners could create an entire line of clothing. They were known for taking a pile of worn, dingy clothing and turning it into a stylish wardrobe, complete with hats, neckerchiefs, and caps, using creative techniques and imagination. Old clothes were also used to make cloaks, coats, shirts, and dresses.
Milliners work with predetermined molds and designs to exclusively produce hats in today’s small hat manufacturing businesses. They make hats in small batches to sell to the general public. Bridal headpieces, caps, bonnets, and berets are the most common types of headwear made in these shops.
Today, a private milliner is a well-respected professional who caters to a select and typically well-heeled clientele. Custom-made headwear is popular among these people, and the milliner creates hats according to their specifications. While he is in charge of the overall design and construction of the hat, the customer frequently selects the materials and decorations to match an outfit or for a special occasion.
Making a hat is a difficult task. The milliner cuts the pattern to the desired shape using his own or another hat’s design. He molds it into the desired shape using hat forms and pressurized steam. The hat is ready to be trimmed once the lining has been carefully sewn into it.
The hat’s trim is what gives it the majority of its personality. Artificial flowers, ribbon, feathers, and veils are all popular embellishments. Hats with fur, straw, and leather are less common. The finished hat’s level of drama is determined by the designer’s vision and the level of spectacle desired by the customer.
Until the twenty-first century, a fascinator, which was originally a shawl-like headpiece made of lace or wool, was thought to be extinct. The word resurfaced with a new meaning at that time. It now refers to a hat that is particularly outlandish or frivolous, rather than a simple piece of material. It is popular at international horse racing events where unique headwear is commonplace, and it is commonly worn by pop music icons.