Bergére Hat

When I decided, a few months back, that I needed to make a copy of a 1780s dress that my sister Heather and I saw in the Kelvingrove Museum in Glasgow, I didn't realise all the work it would entail. Of course, before starting on the dress, I would have to make the proper stays or corset to wear under the dress. As I am sewing those by hand, they are not yet finished. At some point along the way I thought it would be jolly to have a hat as well, and my fancy was taken with the Bergére hat, which was very popular throughout the 18th century.

Susan (1735-1776), Sister of Sir Claude Champion de Crespigny, 1st Bt.
Kelmarsh Hall Collection.

Bergére is the French word for shepherdess, and was the inspiration for the hat, emulating the idealised, pastoral look.

British hat of raffia & silk, circa 1760.
Metropolitan Museum of Art.

I bought a straw hat and red silk ribbon from Burnley & Trowbridge. I also had some thick cream ribbon from a Ribbon Mill in Greene, New York which I used for trimming. The hat above was my inspiration.

A close-up of my ribbon work.

My completed Bergére Hat.