Cappelli Lavander

Cappelli Lavander

Cappelli hats fall under a broad category of hats which includes slight variations depending on the region and era of use.

It is necessary to outline the different variations and names in order to fully understand what the hat is. Popularly known by many as the floppy hat or wide-brimmed hat, the defining characteristic of the hat is the wide brim, which is often so wide that it is floppy, and blocks the sun's rays. Many hats of this style take after the Gainsborough hat made famous by the portrait that Thomas Gainsborough painted in the late 1700s featuring a Duchess who wore a wide brimmed hat. The hat was dubbed the Picture hat because of the way the brim frames the face perfectly in a picturesque manner.

The name Cappelli technically just means “hat” in Italian, however, many searches on millinery sites will bring up wide-brimmed hats, specifically made of straw. In French, the hat is known as a Capeline, and was used as far back as the 1300s. The wide brim provided protection against the sun as women worked out on the farms. However, in millinery terms, Capeline can also simply refer to the unblocked hat material base used to make a hat. Because this is often large and floppy and already has a general hat shape, it closely resembles the wide-brimmed hat and is likely the reason that finished hats are often named Capeline by milliners and vendors.

In Spanish, the hat is referred to as the Pamela hat, taking after the iconic figure of Pamela Anderson during her role on the beach in the American television series, Baywatch. One reason for this is the fact that the hat is often seen during the summer months on the beach because of its protection from the sun and because of its light, flowing nature. Another connection is the curvy elegance of the hat which was reminiscent of Pamela Anderson.

In addition to being elegant beachwear, the wide-brimmed hat is popular for formal dress occasions such as weddings, communions, baptisms, and fashion events such as the Royal Ascot. Some versions of the hat have strict standards for when it is to be worn, such as being exclusively for the day time. These standards include etiquette rules for when to wear it and when to take it off during ceremonies such as weddings, and how to extend the hand for greetings to avoid the obstacle of overcoming the brim when trying to give kisses on the cheek. Other versions of the hat extend its use to more casual settings, allowing the hat to centerpiece boho chic outfits. While it is primarily used as protection against the sun, it can also be worn as an accessory during the fall and winter months to protect against falling rain or snow.

The materials for the different versions of the hat vary depending on the use and setting. Summer hats are typically made of a type of straw, such as parasisal or raffia. The straws are either bleached to maintain a clean straw color or dyed in a range of different colors, then the material is woven or plaited and sewn together to form the hat shape. Sometimes additional blocking is done to shape the hat. The trim on straw hats is usually done with ribbon, colorful fabric, and, optionally, flowers. Wool felt is another typical material used for wide-brimmed hats. In this case, the hats are fashioned similarly to other wool felt hats, where the wool is felted and dyed to any assortment of colors, then blocked. The trim on these hats may be a ribbon or leather band and possibly feathers. Formal versions of the floppy hat are usually made using velvet, satin, silk, or sinamay. The material is blocked incorporating a wide brim which sometimes has stylistic waves depending on the artistic design. Additional trimming is added such as ribbons, fabrics, tulle, lace, bows, flowers, or feathers. There can be variation in the design of the crown of the hat. Generally the hat is seen with a rounded crown of medium depth, although sometimes a flat top is also seen. The length of the brim and curves can vary by design and are important to take into consideration when purchasing based on the shape of the individual's face and the occasion. The colors can also be vital choices based on the complexion of the wearer's skin and the accompanying outfit.

The wide-brimmed hat overall has a very strong presence and is considered a very glamorous hat. It can dress up or accentuate an outfit to make it look extra formal and elegant. Nevertheless it is important to consider the best moments to wear the hat so as not to look inappropriately out of place or over dressed. When worn in the correct setting, it is also important to make sure that the outfit compliments the hat and not the other way around, because the hat should make the person stand out and not be lost in the background. There are even some dress codes regarding what the hat should be worn with. The formal wide-brimmed hat is best considered worn with a short skirt dress or a two piece suit and no sunglasses, whereas a more casual floppy hat can be accompanied with sunglasses on the beach to create a sense of mystery. The hat can also add a feminine touch to more masculine attire, such as a button up, slacks, and a tie, as made famous by Diane Keaton in the late 20^th century. On the whole, the wide-brimmed hat is an accent piece that provides full coverage of the head and face, and can add flair for many occasions.

My desire was to create beautiful hat cases, cases that combine elegance, functionality and refinement. For this, I called upon my friend, the very talented Brazilian designer Gabriela Goldschmidt De La Fuente. The main design objective was to create an image that reference the G in the Gedilva logo, perfectly representing the brand signature. Gabriela created a sleek and dynamic design in two colors that created strong visual recognition of the brand. The motifs representing a stylized G, refer back to the logo to give a very aesthetically appealing look.

I wanted the hat cases to be fabricated in France. French craftsmanship represents the highest manufacturing quality and expertise in luxury items. I selected Multi Services Carton in Paris, who have specialized in producing luxury packaging for many years. Each of my cases is made exclusively by hand with flawless manufacturing quality.

I wanted a case that would be representative of the quality of my brand, and that matched the style and panache of the hat within the case. When you purchase a Gedilva designed hat, you will possess a high fashion and high quality hat and case set that will accompany you throughout your life.