Historical information

The hat was owned, worn and donated by by Jill O'Brien, member of the Kew Historical Society and a former mayor of Kew. The rose is a later addition.

Significance

The Kew Historical Society’s fashion and design collection is comprised of costumes, hats, shoes and personal accessories. Many of these items were purchased or handmade in Victoria; some locally in Kew. The extensive hat collection comprises items dating from the 1860s to the 1970s. While most of the hats in the collection were created by milliners for women, there are a number of early and important men’s hats in the collection. The headwear collection is particularly significant in that it includes the work of notable Australian and international milliners.

Physical description

Soft pink coloured woman’s hat; the high crown swathed in fine pink silk, while the brim is covered with white chiffon. Two large floppy silk roses are used to decorate the hat.

Inscriptions & markings

Nil