“One cannot be neutral in the presence of a hat. It sends a message. When I think about the design of a hat, I consider what that message might be, and what is inside the head upon which the hat might sit. For it is with our minds that we manage and manipulate the world. The first element of design is how the hat will frame the wearer’s face. The gaze is usually directed to the face and the eyes and the person sporting the hat has to be comfortable with the likelihood of attracting the attention of perfect strangers. I try to imagine myself as the woman who will wear a particular design and thus consider how serious or frivolous the hat should be. In design there is a fine line separating a lovely adornment from one that is slightly ridiculous, but the true character of a hat is how it is worn. Personal style and state of mind are what make a hat mysterious or alluring or demure. Hats create amazing possibilities.”
-Patricia Underwood