1960s Yves Saint Laurent YSL Sculpted Ivory Felt Fedora Hat

Yves Saint Laurent’s millinery was often a crucial part of the looks he designed. Having worked in the French fashion world since the 1950s, Saint Laurent was used to incorporating hat designs into his lines as they were a typical part of many women’s wardrobes. During the 1970s, “natural” hair and pixie cuts contributed to the lessening presence of fashionable hats. Despite reduced interest in millinery, Saint Laurent continued to design vivid hats throughout much of the 1980s and into the 90s.

This bubbly little hat, a 1960s-era mod fedora, is constructed from a wintery white felt. A fully rounded crown is detailed with a raised central ridge that has been finished with long hand stitches. The variegated rainbow thread used to topstitch the hatband invites playfulness and provides structural stiffness to this classic hat form. A flat strip of felt, also topstitched, is folded and attached to the center top side as an updated version of a feather in your cap.

The brim angles down over the right eye, exposing the rainbow topstitching around the perimeter of the brim. The interior headband is a bright turquoise grosgrain ribbon. This darling little hat is an apt reflection of Saint Laurent’s forte. As described by the St. James Encyclopedia of Fashion, “Where Saint Laurent sets the standards for world fashion is in his feminizing of the basic shapes of the male wardrobe.” Indeed this delightful accessory is utterly feminine in nature, tempting women to experiment with a dash of male-order chic.

Measurements:

Diameter: 22 inches

This late 1960s hat by Yves Saint Laurent is in pristine condition. Made from ivory felt, it is a mod fedora with sloping brim. A central ridge raises up along the top of the well-rounded crown. Variegated thread in a rainbow of colors is topstitched in repeated rows at the base of the crown, stiffening the area that is typically covered by a hat band.

The interior of the hat is finished with a turquoise blue hat band. High-quality vintage pieces like this are yours to live in and love while increasing in value every year. It’s never too soon to start collecting them, as an investment in your wardrobe—and in yourself.