1930s Hattie Carnegie Original Raspberry Pink Velvet Turban Hat

Hattie Carnegie is an intriguing fashion figure. As the child of a poor family growing up in early 20th century New York City, Carnegie held a number of jobs. One particular job seemed to inspire her; that of trimmer at a millinery manufacturer. When she became old enough, she incorporated this knowledge into a business venture, where she sold clothes and designed fashionable hats for women. Although she was not known as a great technician, she was an astute study of fashion and extremely skilled at selecting gifted designers to work with.

This pre - WWII hat echoes the frequent return of the turban in western fashion. Versions of this hat had been popular as recent as the teens and twenties; however, this particular look was modernized by the use of raspberry pink velvet and the controlled shape afforded by expert pleating and wrapping. The pile of the velvet catches the light, giving the layered edges a soft frosty appearance.

Hand tacked, this turban’s shape is adeptly constructed and lined with a dark red satin. A grosgrain headband and two faux tortoise shell hair combs finish the interior edge. This spirited little hat packs a big visual punch and can be updated with a chic haircut and bright lipstick. Carnegie’s fashionable reputation is widely known, with historic pieces in many collections including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the V & A in London.

Circumference: 22 inches

Height: 6 inches

This Hattie Carnegie vintage hat from the late 1930s or early 1940s is in excellent condition. Made from a raspberry pink/magenta velvet, the complex appearance of wrapped fabric is tidily secured by hand stitching. A dark red satin machine-stitched lining provides an excellent finish, sliding neatly over a variety of hair styles.

Small hair combs affixed to the sides of the grosgrain headband are used to secure the hat to ones coiffure. 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.