40s 50s Women's Pixie Hat by Hugh Beresford Witchy Black Velour Vintage VFG

This is a unique and quirky hat, from a famous London milliner who frequently designed for Queen Elizabeth in the 1940s and 1950s. I believe this is late 1940s or early 1950s, based on a 1949 interview he gave in Australia, when he said that with shorter haircuts, small hats would fit the head. "not be the old fashioned type of cloche, but a close-fitting hat with perhaps a tiny rolled brim, and masses of trimming". This hat is indeed close-fitting, shaped to the head - hugging lower in the back - with a witchy peak. The curving and wired edge is trimmed with multiple spiraling rows of short flat "fringe" made of the same material as the hat - similar to the way leather fringe is done on western jackets. The peak of the hat is set off by a pompom of standup flat fringe.

SIZE: No size label
Inner band circumference - 21.75" (55.25 cm)
Height of crown sitting on flat surface - 7.25" plus 1" pompom (18.5 plus2.5 cm)

MATERIALS/COLORS: Sturdy black wool felt with soft velour-like outer surface.

TAGS: Town & Country, created by Hugh Beresford, made in England

CONDITION: No stains, holes, or other issues noted. The typical makeup stains on the front inner head band are very minimal - see closeup.

Hugh Beresford was a leading London milliner, who designed hats for Queen Elizabeth in the 1940s among others.