From the Closet of: Jenny Walton

Label: Adolfo II

Era: 1980s

About the Item:

“Who was buying this? It’s amazing,” Jenny laughs of this sculptural tangerine-colored Adolfo II hat, embellished with tiny rhinestones and finished with a dramatic tassel detail. “I love pieces that feel very eighties but are revisiting something much earlier—that whole world of old Balenciaga and Yves Saint Laurent glamour.” She was instantly drawn to the hat’s theatricality and distinctly Spanish influence, which recalled the grand couture drama of mid-century evening dressing. “You can really see the Balenciaga influence in it,” she says. “I wanted to modernize it a bit with just a simple black pant and heel so it didn’t feel too costume-y.” Somewhere between a flamenco heroine and an uptown society eccentric, it’s the sort of hat that practically demands a dramatic entrance.

About the Label:

Cuban-born milliner Adolfo Sardina trained under Cristóbal Balenciaga before launching his own label in New York in the 1960s. Known simply as Adolfo, he became one of the great society designers of the late 20th century, beloved for his lavish hats, bouclé suits, and unapologetically glamorous eveningwear. By the 1980s, his designs had become fixtures among New York’s best-dressed women, often blending European couture references with a distinctly uptown theatricality. This particular hat also bears the stamp of George W. Bollman & Co.’s “Excello” wool felt—a premium American hat manufacturer founded in Pennsylvania in 1868 and considered the oldest continuously operating hat factory in the United States. Together, the Adolfo II label and Excello stamp represent a fascinating intersection of old-world couture glamour and historic American craftsmanship.

Measurements:

7.5” width
8” length 

Fabric:

100% wool

Condition:

Item is in great vintage condition.