Please note
This page looks back at the 2025 edition of the hat festival.
Information about the 2026 Hat Festival, which will take place on 23 and 24 May 2026, will be available soon!
Elegance at the castle!
Cheverny Castle hosted the fifth edition of the Hat Festival on 28 and 29 June 2025, with a floral theme and a special appearance by Angélique Angarni-Filopon, Miss France 2025, at the fashion show on 29 June!
This is a unique event in the fashion world, bringing together leading milliners from France and elsewhere to exhibit and showcase their hats for both women and men.
"My husband and I are delighted to be able to showcase the work of milliners, which combines skill, refinement and creativity. We are committed to supporting excellence and craftsmanship," explains Constance de Vibraye, owner of the Château de Cheverny.
After being selected by professionals, the milliners will all exhibit their work on Saturday 28 June from 2pm and on Sunday 29 June until midday.
Le saviez-vous ?
Les modistes sont les héritières des « marchandes de modes » de la 2e partie du XVIIIe siècle. A cette époque, elles sont des commerçantes spécialisées dans la vente d’articles pour les toilettes des dames (rubans, plumes, dentelles, passementeries, etc).
La plus célèbre est Rose Bertin, qui fournit et conseille la reine Marie-Antoinette. Elle devient la 1ère créatrice de mode et sa renommée est internationale. Puis, au début du XIXe siècle, les marchandes de modes deviennent modistes, en se concentrant sur la conception des chapeaux.
Nine milliners were selected for this edition:
Anne Vannieuwenhuyse (Mouscron, Belgium)
Louise Faindt (Etalans)
Florence Jousse (Châteauroux)
Caroline Coutan (Orléans)
Delphine Leducq (Marcq en Baroeul)
Efti Cianko (Albania, living in Blois)
Olga Lumière (Belarus, living in Angers)
Morgane Richard (Lailly-en-Val)
Eugenia Jimenez (Seville, Spain)
The exhibition and sale took place in the castle stables. It was a unique opportunity to discover them, as the stables, which are still in use, are not open to visitors during the rest of the year.
An exceptional fashion show attended by Miss France
The highlight of the festival: the hat show* at the Orangerie. Each milliner presented five to eight women's and men's hats during the show featuring professional models. Straw, sisal, voile, feathers, flowers—these are just some of the materials used by milliners to give free rein to their boundless creativity.
* The models are dressed by stylist Elisa Boriel and their hair is styled by Saint Algue, the event's hairstyling partner since its first edition in 2018.
Did you know?
Hats have been around since ancient times, but for a very long time they were mainly worn by men. The first women's hat, in the modern sense, appeared in the 18th century.
One example that comes to mind is the hat made in 1779 by Rose Bertin, described as follows: "A large white straw hat with upturned brim, edged with hazelnut-coloured ribbon, a band and bow of the same speckled hazelnut colour, a plume of seven beautiful white feathers and a fine aigrette in the centre. " (La Marchande de Modes de Marie-Antoinette, Rose Bertin; Langlade, 1911)
The prizes and jury of the Hat Festival
The 2025 jury was composed of Angélina Nava, who was its honorary chair, Ms.Angélique Angarni-Filopon (Miss France 2025), Mr and Mrs Ré (formiers), Mr Cédric Bioche (couturier at the Elysée Palace) and Mrs de Vibraye (owner of the Château de Cheverny). It awarded five prizes:
Château de Cheverny Award, presented by Miss France: Florence Jousse and her brand De l'autre côté du miroir for the Lilith hat.
Prize for Craftsmanship: Florence Jousse and her brand De l'autre côté du miroir for the Melba hat.
Prize for Elegance: Eugenia Jimenez and her brand Eugenia for the La dame de la nuit hat.
Originality Award: Olga Lumière for the Soleil ajouré hat.
"Flowers" Award, theme award of the year: Caroline Coutan and her brand Les chapo de Caro for the hat Pivoine la plus belle des fleurs (Peony, the most beautiful of flowers).
The 5th Hat Festival is organised in partnership with Atelier Saint-Michel, Saint-Algue, Monmousseau, ITM-Paris, ICI Orléans, Elisa Boriel Couture and Marcus Spurway.
