In 1796, a shepherdess named Pétronille Cantecor was the first person to make a hat from straw. Her creation was a huge hit and marked the beginning, in 1798, of what would be a highly successful millinery industry.
Spectators in stadiums and other sports venues took to wearing straw hats. Originally worn by men, the straw boater became a female accessory when women began to wear them while indulging in sports such as cycling and horse-riding.
And the straw hat didn’t go out of fashion with the advent of the 20th century – quite the opposite, in fact!
During the last century, the straw hat was embraced by singers and entertainers. Its most famous ambassador was undoubtedly Maurice Chevalier. But the hat was also a hit on the other side of the Atlantic with Buster Keaton and particularly Fred Astaire, who made it an essential part of his image.
In the early 20th century, COCO Chanel wore a straw hat to demonstrate that women need no longer wear conspicuous and cumbersome hats.
Other performers who wore a straw hat include Roger Pierre, Jean Marc Thibault and Mireille Mathieu.
Today, the straw hat is a must-have fashion accessory. It features prominently in Haute Couture catwalk shows during fashion weeks. Since the second half of the 19th century, people in Europe and the USA have worn straw hats during the summer months.