At the end of this year, the Palais Galliera is giving pride of place to accessories by presenting the hat collections of one of the greatest milliners, active since the 1980s.

Stephen Jones is a true fashion icon. For over forty years, this British designer has elevated the hat to an art form. This discreet figure, largely unknown to the general public, crafts this exquisite accessory for the biggest names in fashion, from Christian Dior and Jean Paul Gaultier to Thierry Mugler, Vivienne Westwood, Comme des Garçons, and Louis Vuitton. And the list goes on. This is what the Palais Galliera in Paris reminds us of, presenting for the first time an exhibition entirely dedicated to a single accessory in over four decades.

BETWEEN FASHION AND MUSIC

The exhibition retraces his creative process, from his sources of inspiration to the role of Paris in his work. Nearly 400 works are showcased in the spaces of the Parisian institution, bringing together more than 170 hats, some forty complete looks with clothing and headwear, and all sorts of archives (preparatory drawings, photographs, excerpts from fashion shows, etc.).
This hatmaker, now 67 years old, grew up by the sea near Liverpool in northwest England. From the moment he opened his first shop in London in 1980, this graduate of Saint Martin's School of Art wasted no time in launching two collections a year. Stephen Jones quickly made a name for himself in the music world, notably crafting hats for Boy George of Culture Club, Spandau Ballet, and Grace Jones.

ICONIC CREATIONS

It was with the "Model Millinery" collection, inspired by the Parisian look embodied by his first assistant, Sibylle de Saint Phalle, Niki de Saint Phalle's niece, that he began his conquest of the City of Lights in 1982. A true prelude to his future influences. At that time, she introduced him to Azzedine Alaïa, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Thierry Mugler. Two years later, Stephen Jones became the first British milliner to work in the capital.
This famous line still offers today "caps with distorted peaks in the bright colors of the 1980s, berets embroidered with 3D-printed top hat pins, and a sparkling Eiffel Tower tiara made from silk ribbon." The same is true for the "Miss Jones" and "Jones Boy" collections. As the brand emphasizes on its website, they embody "the Parisian woman of 2024, from quilted velvet caps to vinyl hats for horse racing or fashion events, or shimmering veils for dancing at Maxim's."

FROM LONDON TO PARIS

The exhibition at the Palais Galliera explores in depth this special connection he maintains with Paris, its culture, and its couture. From Parisian elegance to the London avant-garde, Stephen Jones quickly became involved in the legendary collections of the greatest fashion houses, leaving his mark on fashion history.
Some of his creations are now part of the permanent collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Louvre in Paris, the Fashion Institute of Technology, and the Kyoto Costume Institute. His collaborations with French brands, such as Christian Dior, for whom he has been designing hats for over twenty-five years, have constantly transformed his vision and his creative process.

“STEPHEN JONES, ARTIST'S HATS”
Palais Galliera, Paris Fashion Museum
10, AVENUE PIERRE-IER-DE-SERBIE, PARIS 16TH
UNTIL MARCH 16, 2025
PALAISGALLIERA.PARIS.FR