BECOMING THE MAD HATTER

Nicole Stewart

While an over-the-top embellished “Mad Tea-Party" hat would fulfill a childhood dream, it is safe to say we don’t all share the same enthusiasm for wearing something quite as dramatic as a Phillip Treacy hat.

Yet after Prada’s turban-inspired headpiece entered stores last season and virtually every woman on Bloor Street copied the look, it is not at all surprising to see hats entering Fall at a fast pace.

“The biggest trend for this Fall is that everyone is wearing a hat, whether large and loose, or a tight cap,” says Liz Cohoe, the designer of Lillie & Cohoe, a millinery company that has been turning heads far beyond Nelson, British Columbia – the small but artsy community in which every hat is handcrafted.

Hats “articulate our personal presence in a way that no other clothing item can,” says Liz. “When we wear the ‘right’ hat, we increase the drama of some part of our expression, creating a combination of anonymity and attention.”

Fall is about head to toe dressing, so find a cap that will “complement the strong architectural lines of this Fall’s looks,” suggests Liz. “Choose hats with textured surfaces and prominent detailing. They will bring a softness and depth to your face.”

The Gretchen Hat has an elegant style to it with a beautiful dip over the left eye and a three-dimensional flower attached to the side. The gingham and check hats will complete any look this season. Favourites include the Metropolitan Jackie Hat in the Galen check and the Estate Woolens Newscap and Fedora available in charcoal stripe, brown plaid, and grey check.

“I was wearing my Lillie & Cohoe hat on the top of Machu Picchu in Peru,” Liz explains, “when two sisters from New York came running up to me demanding to know, ‘Where did you get that hat?’ They just had to have one.”

So wherever you are in the world, a Lillie & Cohoe hat is a must-have this season, especially with only 10,000 hats being manufactured each year. The hats range in price between $70.00 to $140 and are available at Edie’s Hats and HOTBOX in Vancouver, Headcase in Edmonton, Trendy Accessories in Toronto, Chapofolie in Montreal, and Splurge Handbags in Halifax. For more information, visit www.lillieandcohoe.com .