Hat

Claude Saint-Cyr

ca. 1950 · wool, feather · Costume Institute

After opening her Paris house in 1937, Claude Saint-Cyr became known for her innovative use of materials, especially during the war rations of the 1940s. Her popularity eventually led her to the role of exclusive milliner to the Queen Mother, creating the former queen's signature hats. The treatment of the felt, with its subtle graduation from flat to plush is a signature of couture millinery. Additionally, the whimsical bird ornament and fabric manipulation are indicative of quality construction and a refined design sensibility.

Artist

Claude Saint-Cyr

Date

ca. 1950

Medium

wool, feather

Culture

French

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Evelyn Metzger, 1992