A statement making hat moment for actress Sarah Jessica Parker is hardly surprising to those familiar with her Met Gala red carpet sartorial choices, which many include fantastical designs by milliner Philip Treacy. The actress’s latest hat trick — a checkered “cloud-like” topper worn in the “Sex and the City” sequel “And Just Like That”— has just gone viral. This one recalls a variation of oversized hat styles from the past, highlighting the craft of millinery design and when hats were less about function and more about fashion.
Sarah Jessica Parker at the 2024 Met Gala in New York City. Credit: Lexie Moreland
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Parker’s oversized soft pouf draws similarities to floral and feather-plumed, wide-brimmed garden hats and artistic styles that were popular in the early 1900s. Styles that all but disappeared by the mid-twentieth century, when streamlined, modern silhouettes dominated the trends. Wide-brimmed wouldn’t see the same resurgence in popularity until the 1970s, reappearing in varied shapes, sizes, and materials on European couture runways and in American fashion — continuing to evolve into today’s popular beach ready styles.
Model Kristen McMenamy on the runway at the Chanel spring 1992 couture show. Credit: Wade Watson
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While Sarah Jessica Parker’s “cloud” hat may be a fleeting fashion moment, it serves as a bold reminder that summer is on the horizon — a season perfect for fearless fashion statements. A large hat is the ideal accessory for keeping your head just above the clouds on warm, sunny days.
Looking for inspiration? Here is a look back at oversized hats through the decades from WWD and the Fairchild Archive.
