COLLECTIBLE JACK MCCONNEL PURPLE FELT/FEATHERS WIDE BRIM HAT

This is a magnificent creation by the world famous milliner Jack McConnell. The body of the hat is made of purple felt. The wide upturned hat is covered in beautiful iridescent small feathers and the front also has some longer purple feathers with stems that add more drama to the look. The round crown has some of the seam feathers creatively glued & enhanced with rhinestones. In a few places there are small residues of the glue...hardly visible. The hat has a string attached to the label...to hold a missing price tag? It appears not to have been worn. Label: JACK MCCONNELL BOUTIQUE Jack McConnell (1916-2007) served in the Coast Guard during World War II. While stationed at Staten Island, he was dating a woman who was a hat designer. He decided to try making a hat himself & succeeded. He went into millinery designing & learned by making model hats for Laddie Northridge, an acclaimed milliner. He was referred to as the "King of Millinery", designing hats for movie stars such as Joan Crawford & Lana Turner. After his death in 2005, these vintage hats remain highly collectible due to their unique designs and historical significance. Please keep in mind that vintage hats are not perfect.This is an authentic piece of fashion history!This hat is in wonderful vintage condition & has been preserved among 1300+ hats collected for 40+ years. Feathers, straw, furs, flowers & veils are fragile, given their age. Mannequin not for sale