Jack McConnell and the red feather specials

 

 

Jack McConnell was born in America, the son of a Tennessee farmer. In his early years he worked as a radio actor and while still acting asked a milliner friend to make a hat as a present for his mother. The friend declined and Jack decided to make the hat himself.

 



His creation was a great success and he discovered a talent for millinery. Within a few years he was being described as the "King of the Milliners" and "one of the most creative milliners of the twentieth century". His hats were famous in the Hollywood of the 1940s and 50s and graced the heads of movie stars such as Lana Turner and Joan Crawford.

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Jack McConnell created many beautiful styles of hat but he was most famous for his fantastic feathered creations.

 

 



At his New York studio Jack McConnell produced two ranges of hats. The Jack McConnell Boutique hats were made in quantity although always to the highest standard.

The red feather specials were something else.

These pieces were one of a kind, handmade by Jack McConnell himself. Each one was finished with a label stating "Styled by Jack McConnell New York". And sewn in, behind the label was a red feather trimmed with a diamante stud.

 

 



Jack McConnell died in 2005 and the label is now owned by Kathy Jeanne Inc. The new Jack McConnell hats are mass produced and the days of the red feather specials are over.


Which makes the fabulous vintage examples highly collectible. Many of the hats above are currently for sale, click on the pictures for details.

 

However, they are rather expensive.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could hire a fabulous, Jack McConnell hat.....