Expensive Hats of the World

If you’re a fashionista, you know that you can drop a lot of money on different clothing items, including hats. While hats may be a mere accessory, they can still be worth a lot of money depending on their unique history or unconventional design.

Here are some of the most expensive hats from around the world:

Vivienne Westwood hat worn by Pharrell Williams — How can a hat become worth more than its original purchase price? Put it on the head of a celebrity. Pharrell Williams paid around $200 for his Vivienne Westwood hat that he wore to the Grammys in 2014. However, when he auctioned the hat off for the charity From One Hand to Another, the hat sold at auction for $44,100. That’s a pretty steep increase in value.

Charlie Chaplin’s Bowler Hat — The Bowler Hat was part of the signature outfit of comedian Charlie Chaplin during the height of his career. His hat and cane from the movie “Little Tramp” were sold together at auction for $62,500 in 2012.

Princess Beatrice’s royal wedding hat — English royal weddings are known for guests with unique hats. One of the most memorable hats worn in recent history was donned by Princess Beatrice during the 2011 wedding of Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton.

After receiving backlash for her hat, which was a light pink bun featuring a giant oval and ribbon, Princess Beatrice decided to auction off the hat for charity. The hat sold for over $130,000 USD, and the proceeds went to UNICEF and Children in Crisis.

Deep Blue Sea — This hat was developed by Ann-Maree Willett, an Australian milliner, and was first displayed at the Milan Fashion Week in 2007. The Australian wool felt hat measures 54 centimeters and is embellished with 26 precious opals from Lightning Ridge, located in New South Wales, Australia. The total number of opals weigh 1447.5 carats. Willett worked with goldsmith Gerd Gerold Schulz and opal miners Vicki and Peter Drackett to complete the design. The hat initially had 28 opals, but two were sold off the hat in 2008. The hat was initially valued at over $1 million Australian dollars. However, the hat is now valued at $200,000, making it one of the most expensive hats ever created.

Chapeau d’Amour — In 2004, Louis Mariette designed a one-of-a-kind hat for Harrods known as the Chapeau d’Amour, or the “Love Hat.” The hat is famous for its bizarre design. However, that is not what makes it expensive. The hat is made of woven platinum, studded with diamonds, and uses Lady Amherst pheasant feathers. The hat is valued at $2.7 million and is on display at a Christie’s gallery in London.

The papal tiara collection — With the word tiara in the title, your first instinct might be to think of something a princess would wear. However, that is not the case with this tiara. The papal tiara was used from 1143 to 1963 during the papal coronation. It was placed on the Pope’s head as a symbol of his authority. However, the current tiara isn’t the only one of its kind to ever be in existence. Many papal tiaras have been used and subsequently destroyed due to invaders or financial reasons. Tiaras are also given to popes by groups of people or monarchs as gifts.

While papal tiaras are no longer worn, there are 23 still in existence. The papal tiara of Gregory XVI was one of the most worn papal tiaras in the collection. The tiara has three crowns and is set with rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. The tiara remains on display at the National Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Rome. The collection of tiaras is worth more than $10 million.

While these hats may not be topping your head anytime soon (unless you shell out $200,000 for the Deep Blue Sea, which is still for sale), it’s fascinating to consider the factors that put certain hats in a class of their own.

For hats that fit your budget and style, visit Acme Hat Company for custom wool hats, baseball hats, trucker hats, and more.

Infographic

Fashionistas invest a lot of money in clothing items like bags, shoes, and, most especially, hats. To some people, hats are a mere accessory, but it is more than just that. A hat can cost a lot of money depending on its unconventional design or unique history. But how pricey can a hat go? Find out in this infographic.