For headwear/hats aficionados, this exhibition is not to be missed –

shown at Hallwyl House, designed in the late 19th century

by acclaimed Swedish architect Isak Gustaf Clason

 for Count Walther and Countess Wilhelmina von Hallwyl.

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(image from pontusfrithiof.com):

Hallwyl House –  Stockholm, Sweden

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Hats off! Hats from the Lars Nilsson Collection

Hallwyl Museum (Stockholm, Sweden)  

Closes June 8, 2014

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Countess von Hallwyl, the only child and heiress of a wealthy timber-merchant, she was an avid acquirer of paintings, porcelain, works of the decorative arts and antiques.  Her collection comprises the works at The Hallwyl Musewum, Stockholm.

Like Wilhelmina von Hallwyl, designer Lars Nilsson is a devoted collector. He has worked for Christian Lacroix, and has been Head of Design at the fashion houses Nina Ricci and Bill Blass. Lars Nilsson arrived in Paris in 1987 and studied at the fashion school of the Fédération française de la couture. His impressive collection of hats comprises no less than 270 items, with many highlights from fashion houses like Chanel, Lacroix, Saint Laurent and designers like Philip Treacy. Glamorous, extravagant, sculptural, fanciful, rare – but also quite a few remarkably plain examples from this unique collection is now exhibited at The Hallwyl Museum in Stockholm.

Lars Nilsson, has recently become creative director of Comptoir des Cotonniers and Princess Tam Tam.  He has collected hats and other fashion pieces since 1985.

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A few pieces displayed in the exhibition

photos by Carl Bengtsson

(images from ashadedviewonfashion.com):

Ampersand shaped straw hat

decorated chicken feathers dyed brown

created for Pierre Balmain Haute Couture

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Bicorne straw hats 

for Christian Lacroix, summer 1989

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(images originally from lofficieitalia.com):

Black hat with leaf styled decoration

for Christian Lacroix, summer 1988

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Feather hat by Philip Treacy

for Chanel Haute Couture,  s/s  1992

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Black velvet hat with tentacles

for Pierre Balmain Haute Couture,  a/w  1995

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