MEN’S HATS FOR WOMEN

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28936, 2 July 1959, Page 2

MEN’S HATS FOR WOMEN

Demand In London In London women are not only wearing the pants, but the blazers, coats and even the hats of their menfolk. A London columnist (quoted in a recent issue of “The New Zealand Draper”) reported that screen and stage star Kay Kendall had ordered from the Queen’s Hatters, copies of the hat her husband, Rex Harrison, wore for his role of Henry Higgins in “My Fair Lady.” Miss Kendall, however, ordered them in linen instead of tweed. The columnist quoted Mr Max Glazier, managing director of the Queen’s Hatters, who said: “Yes, we do get a percentage of women in here for men’s hats. In the past our ladies were rather ‘county type’ who preferred our hats for active sportswear, but it does seem now that the younger, more model-girl type is becoming interested.” Flat ’Ats Among the headpieces women were wearing now was Frank Sinatra’s snap brim, Maurice Chevalier’s boater, Rex Harrison’s modified deer-stalker “and the ‘flat ’at’ beloved by young British bloods who ride scooters on week-days and very old, very yellow cars at week-ends.”

. Said an assistant, referring to the "flat ’at”: "We make it in light v straw with variously coloured puggrees.” “Puggrees?” queried the columnist. “Oh you know—the hat band. If women Want them we might do them in a polka-dot or paisley as well.” As usual the Americans are ahead of the trend. Janet Sloane, a top New York hat designer, when interviewed, said: “I always buy men’s hats in London and take them home to copy. You get the most classic styling here The flat cap you all have was a wild success in the States and began the Ivy League look for women.”

But, warns the columnist, one of these days women will go too far. However, this year at least should put an end to tedious male guffaws like: “Darling! Where did you get that silly hat?”