Kyiv’s top haberdashery is successfully found
A hat is one of those wardrobe items that have remained a key element of dress for many centuries, only changing in shape. Nowadays, its not obligatory or a matter of etiquette to wear a hat whenever you go outside (unless you’re a member of a royal family); instead, the hat has become a show of individual style and fashion for the person wearing it. And wearing a great hat is an art in itself.
The world’s top designers have already announced that this spring and summer, broad rimmed hats will be all the rage. Of course, the style of the hat you wear is your own choice. However, finding and buying a hat you want in Kyiv is not that easy. Having recently spent a lot of time and energy looking for a bowler for myself, I know all about the problems of finding a hat in Kyiv.
Basically, there are plenty of kiosks with headwear at most local markets, like Petrivka or Darynok. There are always enough seasonal women’s and men’s hats, scarves, gloves and other accessories for fairly affordable prices. However, the choice isn’t that great; you’ll mainly find knitted sports style hats, which are more suitable both for children and teenagers.
You might also find berets, baseball caps, and leather and fur caps, decorated with polar fox or mink fur, as well as side caps made of astrakhan fur similar to the ones Brezhnev used to wear. Elderly people generally prefer that style. And of course, the merchandise offered at a market is often lower quality and lacking in interesting designs – you’re likely to find a similar assortment everywhere you go, that’s why many Kyivans wear identical hats.
I found a good enough choice of headwear on the fourth floor of TsUM, the Central Department Store on Khreschatyk. They offer a selection of felt and straw hats, and various wide-brimmed hats decorated with enormous flowers, ribbons and bows. Trying one of them on, I could picture myself going to the races or to a reception for the Queen of England. Unfortunately, the design of most of the hats on display is the same as the ones worn by our grandmothers; the assortment of creative styles for youth is very small.
Right in the middle of the corridor in the Promenada shopping center, there is a glass counter with a wide range of baseball caps of various colors with flowers, rivets, and embroidery. Those looking for hats to match their urban style will definitely find something for themselves. Unfortunately, other styles are limited.
The sad truth is there are hardly any specialized headwear shops. There are only a few small designer ateliers where you can custom order a hat.
Shop Kapelyushok (Ukrainian for “Hat”) opened not long ago. Their entire assortment consists of hats by the Helen Line brand. At first, the store was a small hat studio called “Helen,” where headwear was made to order. Now it’s a private factory.
TV host Katya Osadcha, known for her passion for headwear, wore several hats from this line when shooting episodes of her TV program Svitske Zhyttya (High Life). Fashion models, showcasing outfits from Ukrainian designers Veronica Zhanvi and Victoria Gres, also wore the brand’s hats on the catwalk.
At Sad Shlyap (Garden of Hats), you can buy or order a custom hat from designer Svetlana Sorokina. They offer felt hats, leather caps, hats decorated with feathers, beads, etc. They have hats which can be rolled up and put in your purse without losing their shape. Nevertheless, hats like those are too fancy to be worn every day and should be kept for a special occasion. They feel like pieces of art and you don’t know whether to wear them or hang them on the wall.
British brand Accessorize’s shop sells a decent assortment of different styles of headwear. I found caps that look like train conductors’ headwear, which are extremely popular among youngsters. Also there are floppies, trilbys, berets, and many more styles to choose from. But for all that they have nothing for men.
Metrodrad’s 12th kvartal (12th block), right under Bessarabska Square and next to the boutiques area, has several small stores offering a wide assortment of hats.
Metrohrad’s headwear stores offer all possible styles of hats, from sporty and casual to the most glamorous and posh. Everyone can find something interesting for themselves there for quite appropriate prices too. I found the latest fashionable styles for low prices, including knitted hats decorated with brooches, massive buttons and buckles; berets with velvet edges or suede insets. Small pill box hats trimmed with fur, feathers and velvet, which are to be fastened to your hair with a pin. Enormous felt fedora hats and women’s bowlers made of “shabby” velvet or felt – everything you might fancy. The next time I decide to get a hat, it looks like I know where to go.
Metrohrad (Bessarabska Square, 12th Kvartal, 247-5665)
