Photograph of the exhibition plinth for "Hats: Humor and High Design," co-curated by the Milliners' Guild and the UNT Texas Fashion Collection and hosted by NorthPark Center in Dallas.

Photo of the exhibition "Hats: Humor and High Design" co-curated by the Milliners' Guild and the UNT Texas Fashion Collection and hosted by NorthPark Center in Dallas. The image was taken on the second floor looking down, showing the project from the south side.

Photo of the exhibition "Hats: Humor and High Design" co-curated by the Milliners' Guild and the UNT Texas Fashion Collection and hosted by NorthPark Center in Dallas. The image was taken on the second floor looking down, showing the project from the south side.

Photograph of the hat "Panda-monium" designed by Mamie Reynaud on view in the exhibition "Hats: Humor and High Design" co-curated by the Milliners' Guild and the UNT Texas Fashion Collection and hosted by NorthPark Center in Dallas.

Photograph of UNT graduate students in Art Education faculty member Laura Evans' art museum education course while they viewed the exhibition "Hats: Humor and High Design" co-curated by the Milliners' Guild and the UNT Texas Fashion Collection and hosted by NorthPark Center in Dallas.

Video from the center of the exhibition moving north, featuring nature-inspired contemporary hats, an orange paper hat by Sue Dooley, a knit hat by Zenobia Bailey, and in the distance a Braniff Airways hostess uniform designed by Emilio Pucci.

Video featuring the "Panda-monium" hat by Mamie Reynaud and a noodle-inspired contemporary hat.

Photo of exhibition curator and Texas Fashion Collection director Annette Becker in front of the exhibition, "Hats: Humor and High Design" co-curated by the Milliners' Guild and the UNT Texas Fashion Collection and hosted by NorthPark Center in Dallas.

Photograph of a Braniff Airways air hostess uniform created by Emilio Pucci at the front/north end of the exhibition, "Hats: Humor and High Design" co-curated by the Milliners' Guild and the UNT Texas Fashion Collection and hosted by NorthPark Center in Dallas.

Video of Allison Lyndes's hat “Roll for Initiative," the first prize winner for the Milliners Guild exhibition. Artist statement read: A whimsical, modern silhouette features motifs drawn from both the game Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) and game-themed Bes-Ben hats. To 'Roll For Initiative' in D&D determines players’ turn order—the higher number you roll, the more courageous your character is in joining in the action. The central button base evokes a dragon’s hoard, encrusted with several hundred beads and 140 hand-drilled polyhedral gaming dice individually stitched to the hat. A hand-painted miniature hero figurine poses as if challenging the dragon. Bes-Ben was also a storyteller in hats, and I was inspired to combine the exuberance of both D&D and his work in my design.

Video of 1939 Walter Florell hat, exhibition text read: As dynamic accessories, hats often allow designers and wearers to stretch the edges of traditional expression. This playfully oversized hat draws inspiration from the designer’s heritage, recalling the Tyrolean hats worn as part of German tradition and at Oktoberfest celebrations. Typically worn by men, this piece was marketed as a women’s accessory, the whimsical scale and dramatic feather shifting the design from folk to fashion and from masculine to feminine. Vanessa Lopez (American) "Old Fashioned" hat, with artist statement: Artist statement Chicago is the birthplace of not only Bes-Ben millinery but also the hometown of a 1940s favorite cocktail, the Old-Fashioned! This turban-style bandeau hat pays homage to both Windy City icons. Much like a proper Old-Fashioned cocktail, this hat would not be complete without its garnish. To mirror the use of unconventional materials in many Bes-Ben designs, a beaded ribbon of dehydrated orange skin, an artificial cherry, and a pheasant feather cocktail pick accent the hat, complete the aesthetic of the Old-Fashioned cocktail. Cheers to two Chicago legends! In background, late 1930s Hattie Carnegie design, exhibition text read: The relationship between feathers and hats has been historically fraught. In the …

Photograph of "Confection" hat by Tommy Cobau on display during the spring 2022 exhibition "Hats: Humor and High Design" at NorthPark Center. The exhibit features pieces from the Texas Fashion Collection's permanent holdings alongside contemporary designs selected by a juried panel arranged by the Milliners Guild. The exhibit was co-curated by millinery Laura Del Villaggio and TFC director Annette Becker.

Photograph of "School Dance" hat by Trish Hirschkorn on display during the spring 2022 exhibition "Hats: Humor and High Design" at NorthPark Center. The exhibit features pieces from the Texas Fashion Collection's permanent holdings alongside contemporary designs selected by a juried panel arranged by the Milliners Guild. The exhibit was co-curated by millinery Laura Del Villaggio and TFC director Annette Becker.

Photograph of "Queen Bee" hat by Karen Geraghty on display during the spring 2022 exhibition "Hats: Humor and High Design" at NorthPark Center. The exhibit features pieces from the Texas Fashion Collection's permanent holdings alongside contemporary designs selected by a juried panel arranged by the Milliners Guild. The exhibit was co-curated by millinery Laura Del Villaggio and TFC director Annette Becker.

Photograph of a variety of historic and contemporary hats on display during the spring 2022 exhibition "Hats: Humor and High Design" at NorthPark Center. The exhibit features pieces from the Texas Fashion Collection's permanent holdings alongside contemporary designs selected by a juried panel arranged by the Milliners Guild. The exhibit was co-curated by millinery Laura Del Villaggio and TFC director Annette Becker.

Photograph of a 1963 hatlet by Bes-Ben on display during the spring 2022 exhibition "Hats: Humor and High Design" at NorthPark Center. The exhibit features pieces from the Texas Fashion Collection's permanent holdings alongside contemporary designs selected by a juried panel arranged by the Milliners Guild. The exhibit was co-curated by millinery Laura Del Villaggio and TFC director Annette Becker.

Photograph of a 1966 hat of laminated paper on display during the spring 2022 exhibition "Hats: Humor and High Design" at NorthPark Center. The exhibit features pieces from the Texas Fashion Collection's permanent holdings alongside contemporary designs selected by a juried panel arranged by the Milliners Guild. The exhibit was co-curated by millinery Laura Del Villaggio and TFC director Annette Becker.

Photograph of "Puccino" Braniff Airways hostess uniformon display during the spring 2022 exhibition "Hats: Humor and High Design" at NorthPark Center. The exhibit features pieces from the Texas Fashion Collection's permanent holdings alongside contemporary designs selected by a juried panel arranged by the Milliners Guild. The exhibit was co-curated by millinery Laura Del Villaggio and TFC director Annette Becker.

Photograph of "Puccino" Braniff Airways hostess uniform on display during the spring 2022 exhibition "Hats: Humor and High Design" at NorthPark Center. The exhibit features pieces from the Texas Fashion Collection's permanent holdings alongside contemporary designs selected by a juried panel arranged by the Milliners Guild. The exhibit was co-curated by millinery Laura Del Villaggio and TFC director Annette Becker.

Photograph "Puccino" Braniff Airways hostess uniform on display during the spring 2022 exhibition "Hats: Humor and High Design" at NorthPark Center. The exhibit features pieces from the Texas Fashion Collection's permanent holdings alongside contemporary designs selected by a juried panel arranged by the Milliners Guild. The exhibit was co-curated by millinery Laura Del Villaggio and TFC director Annette Becker.

Photograph a hat by Dallas-based Ian Dellar on display during the spring 2022 exhibition "Hats: Humor and High Design" at NorthPark Center. The exhibit features pieces from the Texas Fashion Collection's permanent holdings alongside contemporary designs selected by a juried panel arranged by the Milliners Guild. The exhibit was co-curated by millinery Laura Del Villaggio and TFC director Annette Becker.

Photograph of contemporary and historical hats on pedestals topped with plexiglass boxes on display during the spring 2022 exhibition "Hats: Humor and High Design" at NorthPark Center. The exhibit features pieces from the Texas Fashion Collection's permanent holdings alongside contemporary designs selected by a juried panel arranged by the Milliners Guild. The exhibit was co-curated by millinery Laura Del Villaggio and TFC director Annette Becker.

Photograph of 1990s crochet hat by Xenobia Bailey on display during the spring 2022 exhibition "Hats: Humor and High Design" at NorthPark Center. The exhibit features pieces from the Texas Fashion Collection's permanent holdings alongside contemporary designs selected by a juried panel arranged by the Milliners Guild. The exhibit was co-curated by millinery Laura Del Villaggio and TFC director Annette Becker.

Photograph of contemporary and historical hats on pedestals topped with plexiglass boxes on display during the spring 2022 exhibition "Hats: Humor and High Design" at NorthPark Center. The exhibit features pieces from the Texas Fashion Collection's permanent holdings alongside contemporary designs selected by a juried panel arranged by the Milliners Guild. The exhibit was co-curated by millinery Laura Del Villaggio and TFC director Annette Becker.