May 18, 2015

Hat Histories: Rose Valois

1938, MET
Information on our next milliner is hard to find, but I will relay what I have been able to scrape together. Rose Valois, though a pretty name, was not one milliner but in fact three different women who opened the Paris based venture together. Founded in 1927, Rose Valois was created by a Madame Fernand Cleuet, Vera Leigh and a third unknown woman who all studied and worked with Caroline Reboux before striking out on their own. The firm was one of the leading Parisian millinery establishments from the 1930's into the late 50's, closing in 1970.

Later in the 1940's after Leigh had left the firm, she was part of the French Resistance in WWII, and became an SOE a Special Operations Executive. Sadly she was caught in 1943 and later executed in Germany the next year.

1935, MET


This one above is my favorite! I'm telling you, light colored straw with dark veiling gets me every time!


Here again, so pretty! 


1935, MET



So elegant!


If anyone knows more about Rose Valois, please share!

4 comments:

  1. Wonderful post, dear gal! One thing that always grabs me about Rose Valois' designs is how exquisitely they marry OTT whimsy with down-to-earth elegance and wearability. There isn't a single hat here that I wouldn't wear any day of the year. Swoon!!!

    ♥ Jessica

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    1. Thank you Jessica! I particularly like the way Valois used feathers, very whimsy but also wearable as you said :)

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  2. Some amazing hats there. Very interesting to learn more about the makers.

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    1. Thanks Kate, I'm glad you are enjoying the series!

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