A complete retrospective of Stephen Jones’ oeuvre would be practically impossible, given that the British milliner has created ‘approximately 100,000 hats’ in his 45-year career since graduating from London’s Central St Martin’s in 1979.
So for Miren Arzalluz, director of Paris’ Palais Galliera – where an expansive new exhibition of Jones’ work is currently taking place – it was important to hone in on one part of the milliner’s oeuvre. She proposed focusing on his close ties with Paris, French culture and Parisian couture; while Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo chose the title, ‘Stephen Jones, Chapeaux d’Artiste’, Jones being the artiste in question. This is the fashion museum’s first exhibition devoted to an accessory in 40 years.
