The gilded, skull-like mask that closed John Galliano’s Maison Margiela debut earlier this month was certainly the most Instagrammed haute couture headpiece ever, but it was far from the first of its kind. The industry’s favorite milliners, alchemists like Stephen Jones, Philip Treacy, and studio artisans alike, have been whipping up fantastical lids since time immemorial. Among fashion’s crown princes of the theatrical—Galliano, Lacroix, Gaultier—the extravagance of the chapeaux rivaled the clothes themselves. But it’s not all towering chiffon and jewel-encrusted crowns. Leave it to Raf Simons to tease out the decidedly 21st-century elegance of even an anachronistic accouterment, as he did with the hats and veils for his new New Look at Dior’s Spring 2013 Couture outing.
Whether your tastes run minimalist or maximalist, we’ve rounded up 18 of our favorites from over the years in the slideshow above.
—Kristin Anderson, Style.com
