Sean Barrett
‘Belle Epoque’
The hat is inspired by the hats of the Belle Epoque and photos of the races at Longchamps in the 1900s. It is a pari sisal with a petersham binding. The crown of the hat has a blocked fosshape foundation to add a little more substance and support for the trimming.
The hat is trimmed with a mix of modern and vintage silk flowers, antique Bird of Paradise feathers, vintage French veiling and antique silk ribbon.
Not for sale.
“I have always enjoyed looking at the history and heritage of millinery. It is part of joy of recreating period pieces for stage, film and television. I am fortunate in that I am old enough to have been taught by milliners of a different age who were generous in passing on their knowledge.
I have always been an avid collector of anything to do with millinery, blocks, hats, trims etc. I think that by using certain materials one can capture the essence of bygone era without slavishly copying the original.”
Materials and Techniques
The hat is blocked in the usual way using a parisisal capeline. The crown has a foundation blocked in fosshape, a very light thermoplastic felt like material. The brim is bound in petersham and edged in a contemporary braid. The silk flowers are a mix of contemporary and vintage. I used the velvet ivy leaves to echo the leaves woven into the borders of the antique silk ribbon. The feathers are antique bird of paradise which have been bleached and wired. The veiling is from France and I think 1940s but I liked the effect it gave.
Millinery Heritage
“I originally did a degree in Theatre Design at Wimbledon School of Art and whist helping out on student productions in the first year fell in love with making hats and headdresses. After graduation I worked for London Festival Ballet . I continued making hats and experimenting in my spare time and then decided to take the plunge and see if I could work as a milliner. I was enormously lucky in meeting the hat buyers at Harrods and Harvey Nichols and after making hats for them for a year or two got my first job on a film after being recommended by Miss Rowecliffe at Harrods. That was the beginning of my theatrical millinery career. ”
About Sean Barrett
I was born in Gosport Hampshire in 1959. Studied Theatre Design at Wimbledon School of Art and graduated in 1982. I worked for London Festival Ballet for a year before becoming self employed and making hats for Harrods, Harvey Nichols and the Hat Shop amongst others.
My first film was Lady Jane, and that was the beginning of my career. I have been fortunate enough to work on many fabulous projects over the years and taught millinery at Wimbledon for about 10 years.