While Anna Piaggi is best known for her role at Vogue Italia, the late-fashion editor was also recognized for her notable-blue hair and love of eccentric hats. As an homage to Piaggi's role as a style icon, Milan's Palazzo Morando opens an exhibition this week (in the midst of Milan Fashion Week) in association with the Mayor of Milan and the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italia. Curated by Piaggi's close friend and milliner Stephen Jones, the exhibit will feature her collection of hats -- from a McDonald's baseball cap to Chanel haute couture headgear. "[She] would take it into her hands, try it on back-to-front, upside-down, pin on a jewel, add a veil -- mke it her own," Jones said of Piaggi, recalling the times when she would show up at his office for a new hat. To add authencity to the installation, the hats will be displayed in a place that resembles Piaggi's Milan apartment. The exhibit, entitled Hat-ology, follows a previous retrospective held at London's Victoria and Albert Museum in in 2006 entitled Fashion-ology that served as an homage to her career and displayed her considerable wardrobe, including 2865 dresses and 265 pairs of shoes. Piaggi, who died on August, 7, 2012 in Milan, is remembered not only for her impressive sense of style, but also her eternal love for playing with shapes, colors, and materials. The best way to describe and understand the exhibition is through Anna's own words: "My hat is personal. It is what contains the soul, the feeling, the sensation that moves this little world around. It's a secret and I want to keep it as secret as possible."
Anna proved she ran the show at Vogue Italia. As a true ring-leader, Anna's circus outfit included the necessary accoutrements including a whimsical miniature hat, a white and red cape, and of course her signature cane.
Hats off to Anna for taking so many fashion risks. This bold neon pink and orange hat is just one of many eccentric pieces she wore.
Nothing in Anna Piaggi's world could be boring. Even this simple lilac hat packs a punch with its frivolous striped bow.
Anna embraced the storm. When a giant snowflake came down and fell on Anna's head, it became her hat.
Not your ordinary black hat. Anna's playful hat complete with white buttons and hanging black string makes for an unexpectedly gothic look.
If there were a fashion olympics, Anna's eccentric Union Jack hat would take the gold. She wore this patriotic hat to opening of the 2006 exhibition Fashion-ology at London's Victoria and Albert Museum, which paid homage to her work as a fashion luminary.
What do you get when you cross a smurf and a Zebra? Anna's look featured here. She went all out with her blue boa, black and white cowboy hat, gloves and mini blue purse.
In case there was any confusion, Anna wanted to make it clear that she was a fashion monarch. But in typical Anna style, the sense of formal regality was countered with a dimension of playfulness. HRM didn't take herself too seriously.
