Hat

During the 1930s, '40s and the early '50s, when hats were considered required accessories for well-dressed women, Sally Victor was among the foremost American milliners. Creative and very successful for almost 40 years, Victor began her prolific millinery career in 1927. She was one of the original members of the Edward C. Blum Design Laboratory, and often used the Brooklyn Museum's varied collections to draw inspiration for her designs. She was so connected with the Design Lab that she participated in several collaborative exhibitions and the museum often used her designs in publicity materials to exemplify how the Lab could benefit designers by providing inspiration. Her work is characterized by a special quirkiness that could often be traced back to interesting sources such as Native American tribes, the artist Henri Matisse or Japanese armor. She also combined traditional hat-making materials such as felt and silk with new synthetic materials in unique ways. According to her May 16, 1977 obituary in the "New York Times," Victor described her mission simply as "designing pretty hats that make women look prettier."
Large broad-brimmed cartwheel and picture hats were especially popular during the 1930s and '40s. The large stiff brim of this example covered the wearer’s head from the back, then as the wearer turned around, her face, as well as the additional roses hidden under the brim, were flirtatiously revealed. The textural layers of the materials, particularly the woven straw combined with the delicate roses and unique veiling studded with chenille dots, make for a pleasing contrast.