Hatter

Hatter

Hatmaking is the manufacture of hats and headwear ; millinery is the designing and manufacture of hats. It can also be used to refer to a type of store that sells those goods.

A milliner designs, makes, trims, or sells hats.

Millinery is sold to women, men and children, though some definitions limit the term to women's hats. Historically, milliners, typically female shopkeepers, produced or imported for sale an inventory of garments for both men and women, including hats, shirts, cloaks, shifts, caps, and neckerchiefs. Customers would visit a millinery shop to examine and buy clothes (children's clothing, shirts, undergarments and caps, for example).

More recently, a milliner has become a hatter who designs, makes, sells or trims hats primarily for a female clientele.

The origin of the name is likely the Middle English Milener, as in an inhabitant of Milan or one who deals in items from the Italian city, known for its fashion and clothing.

Women's fascinators are a style of millinery: the use of feathers, materials, beads, pearls and crystals to make extravagant to petite fascinators for brides, weddings, christenings, ladies' day at the horse races and many other glamorous occasions.