41 Stunning Photos of Models in Unique Hats From the 1940s and 1950s

   

Born 1898 in Bègles, Gironde, French-born American milliner and fashion designer Lilly Daché began her fashion career there at the age of 15 as a milliner, apprenticed under Caroline Reboux and Suzanne Talbot. She emigrated to the United States in 1924, settling in New York City, working at Macy's and an independent hat shop on the Upper West Side as a salesperson. Daché and a co-coworker bought the independent store. A few month's later, Daché bought out her coworker.

Daché is reported to have said, "Glamour is what makes a man ask for your telephone number. But it also is what makes a woman ask for the name of your dressmaker."

 
Models wearing unique hats designed by Lilly Daché in the 1940s and 1950s


Despite the economic effects of the Depression and World War II, Daché's business flourished in the 1930s and 1940s. Daché's hats cost upwards of $20 at a time when a hat could be bought for just a few dollars, but hats were still considered a cost-effective way for a woman to update her wardrobe. She was also well known for making her visored caps and cone-tipped berets for women working in factories.

Daché designed for Hollywood films and had many clients who were movie-stars. They included Marlene Dietrich, Caroline Lombard and Loretta Young. When she retired in 1968, Loretta Young bought her last thirty hats.

 


Lilly Daché died in Louvecienne, France at the age of 91 in 1989.

These stunning photos that captured models wearing unique hats designed by Lilly Daché in the 1940s and 1950s.

Violets on a flaring snood of blue silk satin by Lilly Daché, circa 1940s

 

Betty Bond in hat by Lilly Daché and jewelry by Schlumberger, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, March 1942

 

Vera Maxwell in her own design with hat by Lilly Daché and jewelry by Verdura, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe for Harper's Bazaar, March 1942

 

Dorian Leigh in an Enka Rayon dress and Lilly Daché hat, photo by George Platt Lynes, 1944

 

Model wearing a net hat by Lilly Daché, 1944


Floral hats from Reine (L) and Lilly Daché (R), photo by Erwin Blumenfeld, Vogue, 1945

 

McCalls, October 1945

 

Model wearing bonnet with roses and overveil by Lilly Daché, March 1945

 

Mrs. John (Babs) Rawlings, Vogue's fashion editor, wearing a hat of roses piled on a high toque base from Lilly Daché, photo by Erwin Blumenfeld, Vogue, 1945

 

Two models are wearing spring fashions: (L) one wears a shantung silk dress by Omar Kiam for Ben Reig Design and a hat by John Frederics; and model (R) wears a suit by Maurice Rentner with hat by Lilly Daché, 1945

 

Model in toast colored sailor adorned with tangerine taffeta bow by Lilly Daché, photo by Constantin Joffé, Vogue, 1946

 

Model wearing broadbrimmed floral hat by Lilly Daché, 1946

 

Model wearing Lilly Daché's bonnet-coif of flowers, feathers, and fruit, 1946

 

Model in all-day suit of gray Miron worsted broadcloth with longer jacket by Larry Aldrich, dressed up with ermine ascot and beret by Lilly Daché, photo by John Rawlings, 1947

 

Model is wearing hat with large feather by Lilly Daché, photo by John Rawlings, Vogue, November 1948

 

Model wearing hat and coat both by Lilly Daché, 1948

 

Model is wearing a free-flowing coat made of red French wool and a cream side peak cloché, both from Lilly Daché and a 112 inch fur scarf made of Royal Kohinoor mutation mink by Fleisher, photo by Erwin Blumenfeld, Vogue, February 1949

 

Dovima in Pacific Craft Fabric woolen suit trimmed in velvet, hat by Lilly Daché, and brooch by Verdura, photo by Erwin Blumenfeld, Vogue, August 1, 1950

 

Evelyn Tripp wearing a rather unique Lilly Daché hat, circa 1950s

 

Mary Jane Russell in wool checked suit by Adele Simpson, orange fur cap by Lilly Daché, photo by Horst, 1951

 

Evelyn Tripp in red linen dress by Larry Aldrich and straw hat by Lilly Daché, photo by Erwin Blumenfeld, April 1953

 

Evelyn Tripp wearing red sleeveless linen dress by Larry Aldrich, and black-rimmed straw boater by Lilly Daché, Vogue, April 1953

 

Horseshoe helmet by Lilly Daché worn with Tina Leser's costume of black velveteen with green taffeta bow-blouse and long taffeta gloves, 1953

 

Model wearing neutral colored coat by Kraeler together with hat from Lilly Daché, January 1953

 

Model in pinky scarf hat by Lilly Daché, April 1954

 

Evelyn Tripp wearing a raw silk coat lined in the same silk surah print of the dress by Adele Simpson, toque by Lilly Daché, fur carryall from Lord & Taylor, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, 1954

 

Mary Jane Russell and Cherry Nelms wearing shade-brimmed hats both by Lilly Daché, photo by Richard Rutledge, Vogue, March 1, 1954

 

Audrey Hepburn, hat by Lilly Daché, earrings by Bulgari, photo by Richard Avedon for the cover of Harper's Bazaar, October 1956

 

Model wearing a coat by Dan Millstein, hat by Lilly Daché, October 1957

 

Model wearing a wool amethyst coat by Ben Zuckerman, hat by Lilly Daché, Vogue, March 1957

 

Anne St. Marie is wearing belted mink fur coat with Verdura pearl necklace and hat by Lilly Daché, photo by Henry Clarke, October 1958

 

Dovima wearing a hat by Lilly Daché, April 1958

 

Isabella Albonico in Lilly Daché hat, 1958

 

Mary Jane Russell in dress by Harry Frechtel and hat by Lilly Daché, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe for Harper's Bazaar, January 1958

 

Gitta Schilling in sleeveless cotton and silk dress by Nantucket Naturals, bracelets by Roger Van S, necklaces by Marvella, straw hat by Lilly Daché, photo by Irving Penn, Vogue, June 1959

 

Isabella Albonico is wearing a red velvet hat by Lilly Daché, 1959

 

Model in tobacco tweed suit with fur collar by Handelman & Raiffe and emerald green velvet pill box hat by Lilly Daché, photo by Horst, Vogue, October 1, 1959

 

Model is wearing a brown tweed walking dress with an interesting wrap of stole in the same tweed by Pauline Trigère and the tall turban is from Lilly Daché, Vogue, September 1959

 

Nena von Schlebrugge posed with her sleeping, leashed, dog, and wearing a Royal blue skirt suitby David Crystal, and matching hat by Lilly Daché, Vogue, 1959

 

Simone d'Aillencourt in greige silk outlined in brown bronze bands above a narrow black skirt by Gaines-Parnet, hat by Lilly Daché, photo by Saul Leiter, Harper's Bazaar, June 1959

 

 

Simone d'Aillencourt in nut-beige wool jersey suit, the short jacket has elasticized waist above slender gathered skirt by Ben Zuckerman, hat by Lilly Daché, photo by Gleb Derujinsky, Harper's Bazaar, February 1959

 

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