What could be more elegant than a beautifully crafted hat to complete an outfit? Until December 13, 2026, 19M is presenting “Metamorphoses: Hats by Maison Michel”, an exhibition celebrating the craftsmanship and creative collaborations of one of the great names in French millinery. To mark its 90th anniversary, the Chanel gallery puts its hatmaker in the spotlight from every angle, exploring its connections with the worlds of fashion, contemporary design and cinema. Fascinating!
Precious craftsmanship
A fascinating journey through techniques, gestures and tools: room by room, the exhibition reveals how a hat is made, from the initial sketch to the finishing touches, including the shaping process. This centuries-old savoir-faire gives rise to exceptional creations that have graced the heads of Parisian high society as well as those of top models on the Chanel runway. Incredible: the sewing machines used today are the very same models used in the 19th century! Each stage of the exhibition focuses on a technique and an artisanal profession, from the block-maker and the molds carved from linden wood to the hatter working with felt, the straw sewers braiding straw and the dazzling ornamental work of the milliners. It is a true immersion into a living heritage that is enriched every day in the workshops of Maison Michel, located just above visitors’ heads in the heart of 19M.
The hat in all its forms
Berets, cocktail hats, caps, boaters, wide-brimmed hats and fedoras: every incarnation of the hat is brought to life—and there are plenty of them! The exhibition showcases the constant reinvention of this fashion accessory by some of the world’s greatest designers. Among the exceptional pieces to look out for: Chanel and Matthieu Blazy’s winged bonnets, a hat with a window by Pierre Cardin, and an XL cloche hat by Margiela and Galliano… Maison Michel puts its expertise at the service of designers to bring an astonishing variety of headwear to life, from the most practical to the most spectacular.
An excellent remedy for a lack of charisma, a hat can transform a look and become a powerful marker of identity. This symbolic dimension is particularly important in the world of cinema, where certain hats have become inseparable from iconic characters, as in The Young Girls of Rochefort: you’ll have the pleasure of seeing an excerpt from the film in the final room, dedicated to the relationship between millinery and cinema.
100% free and open to everyone, the exhibition also comes with a series of creative workshops introducing visitors to the art of millinery. It also joins forces with Michel Gondry’s Amateur Film Factory to offer a participatory filmmaking experience. In a recreation of a 20th-century Maison Michel boutique, you can create your own story with a whole host of hats at your disposal. Lights, camera, action! (Every Saturday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., free with registration).
Metamorphoses: Hats by Maison Michel. 19M. 2 Place Skanderbeg, Paris 19th. Free. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
