Beautiful Hats Designed by Otto Lucas in the 1950s

Otto Lucas (1903–1971) was a German-born, London-based milliner. Running a hugely successful hatmaking studio in London between the 1930s and the 1970s, his business supplied both major stores throughout Europe, the US and Australia and hats for private clients such as Greta Garbo and Wallis Simpson.

Hats designed by Otto Lucas in the 1950s

Lucas was responsible for training many future milliners – notably leading hatmakers to the Queen, Frederick Fox and Philip Somerville, both of whom completed apprenticeships at his studio. His hats can be found in, among others, the archives of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, and the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney.

His career was cut short when he was killed in a plane crash over Belgium in October 1971. These glamorous photos that captured portraits of classic beauties wearing hats designed by Otto Lucas in the 1950s.

Anne Gunning in loose leopard-skin coat from Brenner Furs, felt hat by Otto Lucas, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, October 1950

Model is wearing a black velvet hat with a brim of black fox fur by Otto Lucas, photo by John French, Harper's Bazaar UK, October 1950

Myrtle Crawford in navy wool bolero and skirt by Spectator, with it a blood-orange felt cloche swaddled in chiffon by Otto Lucas, photo by Maurice Tabard, Harper's Bazaar UK, February 1950

Myrtle Crawford is wearing a spectacular coal-black velvet tricorne by Otto Lucas, photo by Henry Clarke, Harper's Bazaar UK, November 1950

Anne Gunning in box jacket of reversible wool in white on one side and yellow the other over black wool dress with diagonal draped V-neck by Frederick Starke, white straw hat by Otto Lucas, Harper's Bazaar UK, February 1951

June Duncan in polished, pewter-gray shantung suit, belted with a narrow skirt by Roter, wide-brimmed hat by Otto Lucas, handbag by Asprey, town pumps in gunmetal gray kid by Rayne, photo by Keith Ewart, Harper's Bazaar UK, June 1951

June Duncan in soft winter-brown wool dress, perfectly plain except for one jutting pocket and long fringed stole by Dorville, black veiled hat by Otto Lucas, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, November 1951

Barbara Goalen in superb tweed dress by Frederick Starke, blonde felt hat by Otto Lucas, fisher tie by Albert Hart, jewelry by S.J. Phillips, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, August 1952

Susan Hook in a button-through cocktail coat-dress in embossed satin by Susan Small, ten-gallon gondola hat by Otto Lucas, antque silver bracelets by Halcyon Days, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, August 1952

Barbara Goalen in wool coat with beaver shawl collar by Sydney Cohen, fur hat by Otto Lucas, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, November 1953

Della Oake in black velvet princess dress with buttons and braid by Susan Small, black velvet hat by Otto Lucas, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, November 1953

Model in a fine gray wool crêpe, pleated, asymmetrically draped under a suède belt by Frederick Starke, black straw hat circled with ostrich by Otto Lucas, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, May 1953

Shelagh Wilson in silk jersey dress with draped sliding shoulder by Spectator Sports, Fiona Campbell-Walter in citron crêpe dress with bateau neck by Dorville, hats by Otto Lucas, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, May 1953

Shelagh Wilson is wearing a white panne velvet sailor and other model the same version in black velvet, both by Otto Lucas, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, July 1953

Susan Abraham is wearing a black ribbed velvet painter's beret by Otto Lucas, a natural Russian sable tie by Deanfield Furs, photo by Tom Kublin at Atkinson's, Bond St., Harper's Bazaar UK, December 1954

Margaret Phillips wears a corn-colored leghorn straw with wine-dark roses by Otto Lucas, photo by Eugene Vernier, Vogue, June 1956

Model in navy-blue strapped sheath, tulle-wrapped toque by Otto Lucas, photo by Donald Silverstein, Vogue, April 1, 1956

Pat O'Reilly in pale wool dress with unpressed pleats topped with a cropped bolero by Jacqmar, white felt hat by Otto Lucas, photo by Tom Kublin, Vienna, Harper's Bazaar UK, January 1956

Anne St. Marie in black and white Prince of Wales check worsted and glazed with a big white piqué collar by Hardy Amies, antelope hat by Otto Lucas, photo by Richard Dormer, NYC, Harper's Bazaar UK, February 1957

Anne St. Marie in blue and white, silk wool tweed weave suit, the jacket is cape-backed over a lean skirt by Frederick Starke, beret by Otto Lucas, photo by Richard Dormer, New York City, Harper's Bazaar UK, February 1957

Anne St. Marie in cape-like jacket in yellow and green houndstooth tweed over a lemon-drop tweed suit with its own blouse by Matita, hat by Otto Lucas, photo by Richard Dormer in NYC, Harper's Bazaar UK, February 1957

Anne St. Marie in fine navy blue wool dress, the skirt billowing over stiff petticoats and a short jacket with dotted bow tie by Susan Small, hat by Otto Lucas, photo by Richard Dormer, NYC, Harper's Bazaar UK, February 1957

Anne St. Marie in light brown jersey Princess sheath under a semi-fitted jacket by Simon Massey, hat by Otto Lucas, photo by Richard Dormer, NYC, Harper's Bazaar UK, February 1957

Anne St. Marie in lightweight brown tweed suit with a slideaway shoulder by Harry Popper, hat by Otto Lucas, photo by Richard Dormer, NYC, Harper's Bazaar UK, February 1957

Anne St. Marie in twig-brown and white tweed suit with a droop to the shoulders by Sylvia Mills, hat by Otto Lucas, photo by Richard Dormer, NYC, Harper's Bazaar UK, February 1957

Model in tangerine tweed dress and cape by Susan Small, hat with hailstorm veil by Otto Lucas, Susan handbag, photo by Tom Kublin, Harper's Bazaar UK, February 1957

Model is wearing a cut down cloche woven from black satin worn with a list to the back by Otto Lucas, photo by Tom Kublin, Harper's Bazaar UK, January 1957

Model is wearing an ostrich feathered hat by Otto Lucas, photo by Richard Dormer for Harper's Bazaar UK, December 1957

Anne Gunning in red wool suit over a floral print silk shantung blouse that also lines the jacket by Matita, felt hat covered with chiffon by Otto Lucas, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, March 1958

Jennifer Hocking in fitch fur featherlight helmet by Otto Lucas, photo by Tom Kublin, Harper's Bazaar UK, November 1958

Adele Collins wearing a red velvet cloque by Otto Lucas, photo by Norman Parkinson, Vogue, 1959

Models in hats of gold or silver straw, lined, cuffed or banded in different colors by Otto Lucas, photo by Vernier, Vogue UK, March 1959

Ros Watkins in silk jersey by Matita Overseas, hat by Otto Lucas, mocha calf handbag by Jane Shilton, rope beads by Jewelcraft, photo by Vernier, Vogue, March 1959