Full Size Top Hats Coming Soon

Working now with my custom hat block maker on a new design for full size top hats, based on the 'D'Orsay' top hat that was popular circa late 1800s-1930. This will be a hat block style exclusive to House of Nines Design. With time for prototyping, I should be ready to roll them out in 4-8 weeks.

Here are some of the images I've been using as inspiration for the D'Orsay.

Vaudeville!


More Vaudeville: San Franciscans Bert Williams and George Walker.


Victorian equestriennes.




The immortal Marlene Dietrich.


The incomparable Josephine Baker.


Fun during the Belle Epoch.



There was so much variety in top hats during the 19th century.


The famous 'Butterfly Dandy", Comte Robert de Montesquiou (by Boldini).


Una, Lady Troubridge (by Romaine Brooks).

Yes, I know there were no actual hats in either of these last two pictures. It's all in the attitude.

Add a little voodoo.


And now, for some vintage hats.




German circa 1920.


This one was listed on ebay a while back as having belonged to a 'Hudson Bay' American Indian chief circa 1890. I don't know about the authenticity of that assertion, but it sure is cool.