BES BEN Chicago Whimsical Corn Stalk Hat c 1950s
By Bes-Ben
Located in University City, MO
BES BEN Chicago Whimsical corn stalk hat c 1950s The unique midcentury hat is designed with a collection of cloth corn husks with sprouting green cloth blades of grass Makes a cha...
$2,250
Bes Ben Clockworks Hat
By Bes-Ben
Located in New York, NY
Rare Fantasy Collectible Bes Ben "Clockworks" Hat from the 1940's. The Mad Hatter of Chicago created some of the craziest novelty designs of the period.
Bes Ben Velvet Mask Hat with Cut Steel Butterflies
By Bes-Ben
Located in New York, NY
Rare Fantasy Collectible Bes Ben Surreal Mask Hat from the 1940's. The Mad Hatter of Chicago created some of the craziest novelty designs of the period.
1950s Bes-Ben Ivory Feather & Pearl Medallion Cocktail Hat
By Bes-Ben
Located in Gresham, OR
A fabulous and rare 1950s Bes-Ben cream exotic feather and faux pearl medallion hat.
$595Sale Price|25% Off
Dramatic Bes Ben Pinwheel Hat with Shaved Feathers. 1950's.
Located in University City, MO
Bes Ben hats are displayed in the costume departments of many museums worldwide.
1940 Bes-Ben Kelly Green Tilt Hat w Wide Back Band & Loopy Flourish
By Bes-Ben
Located in Gresham, OR
A wonderful and rare early Bes-Ben tilt hat in a rich Kelly green: Front consists of exuberant loopy felt fringe.
Price Upon Request
Bes-Ben Rooster Crown Hat with Veil
Located in Gresham, OR
This hat was no exception to the rule at Bes-Ben: Novelty is Everything!
Bes-Ben Incredible 1940s Tilt Hat w/ Egret Feathers and Veil
By Bes-Ben
Located in Gresham, OR
An incredibly collectible 1940s Bes-Ben black straw tilt hat with extravagant black egret feather plumes and perfect veil.
Bes Ben Chicago Rare Surrealistic Clock Dial Avant Garde Designer Hat c 1950s
By Bes-Ben
Located in University City, MO
Bes Ben Chicago Rare surrealistic clock dial themed designer hat c 1950s The whimsical avant-garde designer hat is embellished with a series of pearlized resin enamel clock dials wit...
Surrealistic Bes-Ben Bee Hive Hat. 1950's.
Located in University City, MO
Incredibly rare early 1950's beehive hat designed by Benjamin B. Green-Field for his legendary company Bes-Ben of Chicago.
Bes Ben Whimsical Winter Wonderland Christamas Tree Hat c 1950
Located in University City, MO
Bes Ben Whimsical winter wonderland Christmas tree hat c 1950 The incredible artisan hat was conceived from the millinery genius of Benjamin Green - Field aka the Mad Hatter T...
Incredible Bes-Ben 40s Hat w/ Bird of Paradise Feathers
By Bes-Ben
Located in Gresham, OR
This is an incredible black wool felt Bes-Ben hat from the 40s with extraordinary natural bird of paradise feather trim...it is arranged like the bird's mating dance!
1966 Bes-Ben Black Felt Hat W/ Floral Embroidered Butterflies Bead Trim & Net
By Bes-Ben
Located in Gresham, OR
A wonderful 1966 Bes-Ben black felt cap with black bead trim at edge, colorful floral embroidered butterflies perched on top and an open net veil. A little drama perhaps?
1940's Bes-Ben Slate Blue Felt Hat w Crown of Multi-Color Feathers
By Bes-Ben
Located in Gresham, OR
Known from trimming their hats with a bizarre assortment of novelty items, Bes-Ben continues to fascinate serious hat collectors.
BES-BEN c.1940s Copper Brown Braided Straw & Black Silk Velvet Evening Capulet
By Bes-Ben
Located in Thiensville, WI
DESCRIPTION: BES-BEN c.1940s Copper Brown Braided Straw & Black Silk Velvet Evening Capulet Circa: c.1940’s Label(s): Bes-Ben Made in Chicago Designer: Benjamin B.
1958 Bes-Ben Over-The-Top Pink Singed Ostrich Feather Headdress W/ Crystals
By Bes-Ben
Located in Gresham, OR
A spectacular 1958 Bes-Ben masterpiece! Over-the-top, even for the whimsical brother and sister duo, this pink singed ostrich feather headdress is a towering statement! Trimmed in pi...
Ascot Worthy Bes Ben Frog Hat. Surreal. 1950's.
Located in University City, MO
Incredibly rare 1950's surrealistic frog hat designed by Benjamin B. Green-Field for his legendary company Bes-Ben of Chicago.
Bes- Ben Leather Heart Hat
By Bes-Ben
Located in Chicago, IL
This is a great hat from the Chicago brother and sister team of Bes Ben.
Bes-Ben 1960's Hat
By Bes-Ben
Located in Chicago, IL
This is a fun 60's hat with mirrored fabric.
*Measurements*
The overall height is 2 1/2.
The inner dimentions of this hat are 5 1/8"d x 5"w.
1950's Bes Ben Celluloid Rosette Hat
By Bes-Ben
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Coral colored carved-celluloid cocktail hat from American milliner Bes Ben. Celluloid medallions are hand sewn onto frame.
Bes-Ben black velvet beaded hat with veil unworn w tags
Located in Cloverdale, CA
Bes-Ben black velvet beaded hat with veil unworn w tags Founded by siblings Bess and Benjamin Green-Field, Bes-Ben sold elegant hats to society women and Hollywood starlets from the...
Bes-ben festive turban
By Bes-Ben
Located in Cloverdale, CA
Wonderful , festive turban from Bes- Ben
Bes-Ben Fanciful Springtime Hat
Located in Oradell, NJ
The hat is in excellent vintage condition, measures 22" in circumference, and would probably be coveted my many Bes-Ben collectors.
Spring Hat Creation by Bes-Ben
Located in Chicago, IL
This is a pretty hat done by the famous Chicago brother and sister team of Bes-Ben.
1930/40s Bes Ben Feather & Felt Hat
Located in Rockwood, ON
This late 1930s, early 1940s topper is pure high drama! Bes Ben was a famous Chicago milliner who specialized in hats that were elaborate and unusual.
Vintage Bes Ben Hat Flowers Crystal Drops Purple Ribbons 1960s With Box
Located in Portland, OR
This vintage Bes Ben flower hat was designed by Benjamin Green-Field and was made in Chicago in the 1960's.
1940s Rare Bes-Ben Butterfly & Leaf Cloche Hat
By Bes-Ben
Located in Rockwood, ON
The Bes-Ben hats are perhaps the most coveted amongst hat lovers and the crazier the hat the better.
Bes-Ben Navy Blue Beaded Hat 1959
By Bes-Ben
Located in Cloverdale, CA
Wonderful beaded navy blue hat from Bes-Ben. Known as the Mad Hatter of Chicago ,Bes-Ben was started by Benjamin B.
Bes-Ben Blue Velvet Hat with Embellished Veil
By Bes-Ben
Located in Cloverdale, CA
Bes-Ben Blue Velvet Hat with Embellished Veil .
Bes-Ben Fuscia Hat with Giant Amethyst Crystals 1963
By Bes-Ben
Located in Cloverdale, CA
Known as the Mad Hatter of Chicago ,Bes-Ben was started by Benjamin B. Greenfield (1897-1989) and his sister Bessie in 1920 in Chicago. This comes directly form the original owners ...
Bes Ben Chicago Vintage Hat Wide Brim Orange Pomegranate
Located in Portland, OR
This is a fabulous Bes Ben vintage hat designed by Benjamin B. Green-Field and made in Chicago.
The right vintage or designer hat can transform a look. This humble accessory is your reliable pièce de résistance, boosting confidence and lending an air of sophistication to any ensemble.
Functional and a widely renowned, versatile finishing touch when heading out for a night on the town, hats have long been a part of the history of fashion. Wealthy Egyptians, for example, wore hats to keep them cool in the blazing sun.
In the early 1800s, the wide-brimmed bonnets that women wore became increasingly elaborate. The brims broadened and many were embellished with colorful floral decorations. Legendary fashion designer Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel’s career began in millinery, a term that stems from Milan, Italy, as it was the city best known for producing quality hats during the 16th century. That was before she would set the fashion world alight with comfortable and practical jackets and skirts, encouraging women to leave extravagant clothes behind. Halston, who defined the spare, body-conscious style of the so-called Studio 54 era, was the hat designer for Bergdorf Goodman when he first moved to New York City. He had his first encounter with fame in 1961 when Jackie Kennedy wore a pillbox hat he designed.
From fascinators at a prestigious derby to a baseball cap for a walk in the park, there’s a hat for every occasion. When shopping for the right hat, you’ll want to pick one you feel confident in. Think about size too — you don’t want a wide-brimmed headpiece that will hog the spotlight on every occasion (or maybe you do). If you’ve got a petite face, an oversize hat might be too overbearing.
On 1stDibs find an expansive assortment of vintage and designer hats today. You can search for hats by style, designer or color.
This simple move can jazz up any outfit without bringing on the heat.
Sunglasses were a constant for Bob Dylan in real life and in the film.
The actress and style icon wore the 1960s frames while shooting on location in the French Riviera.
Of the million-plus items on 1stdibs, some seem to have transcended time, looking as fresh today as when they were first produced. The pieces highlighted on our new Iconic Designs page stand out for longevity, functionality and quality of design and manufacture — just the tonic for the present unsettled moment.