Paris Milliners and Hat-Making Ateliers
Anthony Peto
- A working Paris hatter making felt, straw and cloth styles for women and men in a workshop close to the boutique.
- Classic forms are handled with personality, from narrow-brim fedoras to panamas shaped for an individual face.
- The shop’s depth of knowledge turns fitting into a conversation about proportion rather than a quick size check.
Great for:
Made-to-measure hats, Unisex styles, Traditional technique.
A felt hat that can be adjusted in crown, ribbon and brim before leaving the shop.
Bring the coat or jacket you wear most often so the hat can be judged against the full silhouette.
Atelier 144
- Anthony Peto’s couture-minded Left Bank atelier, showing more elaborate headpieces beside finely made everyday hats.
- Veils, sculpted brims and unusual trims are balanced by the practical understanding of how a piece must sit and move.
- The intimate setting suits clients looking for a wedding, race-day or formal hat with a clear personal note.
Great for:
Occasion hats, Couture finishes, Personal fittings.
Hand-shaped pieces whose volume changes when viewed from the side rather than straight on.
Arrange the outfit fitting before finalising trim colour, as small differences in fabric tone become obvious beside the face.
Mademoiselle Chapeaux
- A female-founded millinery atelier creating hats in Paris through traditional blocking, sewing and finishing methods.
- Retro references are sharpened by cleaner lines and unexpected colours, keeping the collection away from costume.
- The team is particularly adept at finding a proportion for clients who believe hats do not suit them.
Great for:
First hat fittings, Feminine shapes, Made-in-Paris craft.
Structured felt styles and lighter straw pieces that can be customised with a different band.
Try the same crown in two brim widths before changing colour, and proportion usually matters more than shade.
La Cerise sur le Chapeau
- A boutique-atelier where felt and straw hats are assembled and customised in view, often within a short lead time.
- Customers can combine crown, band and loop colours, creating individuality through measured choices rather than excess.
- The approachable fitting process makes bespoke millinery feel valuable for daily life as well as ceremonies.
Great for:
Colour selection, Quick customisation, Everyday hats.
A hand-dyed felt or panama adapted with a contrasting grosgrain ribbon.
Photograph the hat in natural light outside the shop before confirming the ribbon, as indoor colour can be misleading.
Maison Michel
- A Paris millinery house founded in 1936, recognised for felt, sewn straw and couture headpieces shaped in its own workshops.
- Classic fedoras and boaters sit beside veiled and embellished designs, revealing how the same block can support different attitudes.
- Half-measure services offer a route between ready-to-wear and a fully bespoke commission.
Great for:
Heritage millinery, Couture craft, Lasting shapes.
Sewn-straw pieces and clean felt shapes that show the quality of the underlying block.
Ask for fitting advice before settling on the most familiar style, and a small change in crown height can transform the result.
Pauline Brosset
- An appointment-only Paris atelier where Pauline Brosset makes hats to the wearer’s measurements.
- A traditional conformateur records head shape as well as size, giving the fitting its precision.
- Felt is steamed over wooden blocks; crown, brim and finishing details are chosen together.
Great for:
Bespoke fittings, Traditional tools, Hands-on hat-making.
A custom felt fedora, or a workshop that takes you through shaping your own hat.
Allow for two fittings when planning a commission; the second is when you try the finished hat before collection.
By appointment
Authentic Panama
- A specialist address devoted to genuine Ecuadorian panama hats, with enough grades and weaves to make comparison meaningful.
- The fitting focuses on crown, brim and weave density, separating a lasting summer hat from a generic holiday purchase.
- Natural straw tones and hand finishing keep attention on material quality rather than decorative branding.
Great for:
Panama hats, Summer wardrobes, Material comparison.
A medium-brim Montecristi-style weave that suits both city clothes and travel.
Ask how the chosen weave should be packed and stored, and the finest hats are supple but not indestructible.
