Reviving The Boudoir Cap

Bringing the Boudoir Cap Back, the House of Hats Way

At The House Of Hats, Antique fashion has never been something to admire from a distance.

For over two decades, our work has been guided by a love of timeworn beauty — lace softened by age, hand-finished details, silhouettes shaped by another era. These are the pieces that whisper rather than shout. The ones that carry history in their threads. The ones that feel alive.

It was only natural that the boudoir cap would find its way home here.

Once an essential part of a woman’s private wardrobe, the boudoir cap belonged to the intimate rituals of everyday life. Worn in bedrooms and dressing rooms, it was crafted from lace, silk, crochet, and chiffon — practical in purpose, poetic in presence. It existed beyond trends, created not to be seen, but to be felt.

Our love of antique fashion is what drew us back to this forgotten piece and our inspiration began the moment we found an original 1920s boudoir cap—so delicate and full of feminine charm.

That’s how our reimagined boudoir caps were born.

Antique Spirit, Modern Wearability

At The House of Hats, we reimagine the boudoir cap with a modern sensibility — preserving its romance while making it effortlessly wearable for today. Each cap is handcrafted using antique and vintage laces, ribbons and flowers chosen for their softness, irregularity, and quiet character. No two are ever the same.

The silhouettes are light, draped, and unstructured. Designed to sit comfortably on the head, they feel natural rather than precious — something you reach for instinctively, not something you save.

These boudoir caps are made to be lived in.

Wear one in the morning while the house is still quiet. Slip it on with a floaty dress, a silk slip, or unexpectedly with jeans and a knit. Let antique lace become part of your everyday wardrobe — not as costume, but as comfort.

Romance, Reclaimed

As dreamy, antique-inspired fashion returns — lace, softness, and slow beauty finding their way back into modern wardrobes — the boudoir cap becomes a quiet symbol of this shift. A reminder that femininity does not need an occasion, and beauty does not need permission.

By bringing back the boudoir cap in our own wearable way, The House of Hats invites antique fashion out of the past and into the present — where it belongs.

Because the most enduring kind of elegance is the kind you carry with you — softly, daily, and entirely your own.

Lace headwear trends are making waves in 2026, making the Edwardian and antique lace fashion revival more relevant and on-trend than ever

We invite you to explore our boudoir cap collection, thoughtfully handcrafted from antique lace and designed for modern wear.

Shop our collection of Boudoir caps now..

Our ‘ ROSEBUD ‘ Lace Boudoir Cap

Our ‘ LACE SERENITY ‘ Lace Cp

Happy 20th Birthday The House Of Hats

This year marks 20 Years since The House of Hats began — and even writing that sentence feels surreal.

What started as a small creative dream has grown, changed, paused, reinvented itself, and somehow endured through every season of my life. Businesses don’t usually last this long, especially creative ones, and especially ones built slowly, by hand, with heart rather than hype.

Twenty years ago, I began making hats because I loved them — the romance, the history, the craftsmanship, the quiet confidence a beautiful hat gives to the person wearing it. I never imagined how deeply intertwined this business would become with my life, or how many chapters it would quietly witness.

Over the years, The House of Hats has lived in studios, spare rooms, shopfronts, arcades, market stalls, and now online. It has survived economic downturns, personal upheavals, moves between cities and states, changing trends, changing bodies, changing priorities — and it’s still here.

That alone feels worth celebrating.

This brand grew as I grew.
It evolved as my taste evolved.
It slowed down when I needed to slow down.

There were times when I chased momentum, and times when I learned that rest and refinement mattered more. There were collections, commissions, bridal pieces, couture moments — and now, a gentler return to wearable, everyday hats made slowly, one at a time, with intention.

I no longer believe a business has to be loud to be successful. Or constant. Or exhausting.

I believe in longevity.
I believe in craftsmanship.
I believe in making beautiful things that last.

Thank you for being here..

If you’ve ever worn one of my hats, supported my work, followed along quietly, or checked in over the years — thank you. Truly.

Small businesses don’t survive 20 years without real people on the other side. Your support has meant more than you probably realise, especially during the harder chapters.

As The House of Hats steps into its third decade, it does so with more clarity, more softness, and more trust than ever before. This is a quieter era. A slower one. But one rooted deeply in experience, skill, and love for the craft.

Here’s to 20 years of hats, stories, reinvention —
and to whatever the next chapter holds 🤍👒👒👒

Toowoomba City Store - COMING SOON

The House of Hats Toowoomba City – COMING SOON! ✨

I’m absolutely thrilled to announce the upcoming opening of my new boutique next month, nestled within the beautiful Australia Arcade on Ruthven Street. 🖤
Step inside and discover an exquisite collection of hats & headwear, decadent bridal accessories, and hand-curated vintage clothing — each piece imbued with timeless elegance and a whisper of old-world glamour.
I cannot wait to welcome you in person...
With love,
Ilana x 👒

Goodbye Sydney

🕰️ FAREWELL SYDNEY 👋

After a lifetime in Sydney… I’m moving

Born and raised here, this city has shaped every part of me. It’s where I fell in love with vintage fashion, taught myself to sculpt hats by hand, had two retail shops and where The House of Hats came to life.

But life is shifting, and like the song says… “The rest is still unwritten.”

I’m packing up my little showroom and heading to Queensland to begin a brand new chapter. It’s emotional and a little overwhelming, but also full of hope, growth, possibility and big dreams...

To all the beautiful clients who stepped through my Sydney doors — thank you from the bottom of my heart. I’ll be sharing the journey as it unfolds, and I hope you’ll keep walking with me.

Here’s to trusting the unknown, starting fresh, and letting the next chapter write itself 💫

See you on the other side

BY THE SEASIDE - Our SS23/24 Collection

The House Of Hats Newest Collection….’ BY THE SEASIDE ‘ is here just in time for summer.. Step into a world of timeless charm and elegance.

Get ready to elevate your summer style with The House of Hats latest collection of stunning handcrafted hats!

Made from only the finest material and inspired by the timeless fashion of the 1930s our new collection is the perfect addition to your summer wardrobe.

Offering nine new original handcrafted styles exclusive to our brand each delicate piece has been expertly handcrafted in our Sydney Studio by renowned Milliner Ilana Meilak, ensuring that every hat is of the highest quality and designed to last.

We’ve added our signature style of adding vintage trims and buckles to this collection to keep it authentic to the era.

Whether you’ve looking for a stylist for a day at the beach, a chic addition to your summer outfit or simply want to make a statement at your next event, our new collection has something for everyone.

So why wait? head over to our shop to view tghe full collection or pop into our Sydney Showroom to try them all on in person.

Trust us, you wont be disappointed…..

ilana is wearing our AHOY MINI BOATER in French Navy

Watch our ‘ BY THE SEASIDE Campaign Video to view the Collection

SEASONS IN TIME - New Women's Winter Hat Collection

BABY IT’S COLD OUTSIDE …. Winter is here and lucky for you we have you covered !! with our newest women’s hat collection.

The House Of Hats has some amazing new Winter Style Hats in our Online shop to keeps you warm and looking fabulous all winter long.

Our Newest collection of Vintage Inspired hats inspired by the season in times of different eras from the 1920s- 1960s

We have four new hat designs available in luxurious fur felt in Winter shades, such as Forest, Smoke, Caramel and Ebony.

Like our ‘ Velvet Royale ‘ Pill box hat inspired by the 1940s and the glamour, a perfect after 5 cocktail hat worn tilted on the side slight forward or can be worn on the back of the head for a more 60s feel, so versatile the choice is yours !

Our ‘ Baby it’s Cold Outside’ Fur Felt turban is a 60s dream hat, perfect for everyday to keep your head warm, this classic style will be your winter staple hat.

Our ‘ Season’s Fur Felt Beret for the beret lovers out there, the perfect side that sits elegantly on the side of the head for a true french parisenne style.

Our ‘ Time After Time’ Tilt hat will transform you back to the late 1930s , teamed with a felt art deco hat pin, you will defiantly turn heads with this hat.

And last but not least our ‘ Doves’ cloche hat , inspired by the 1920s in the perfect dove grey for all you cloche lovers out there.

These are all available Ready to ship now in our Online Hat Shop or can be custom made in any colour you choose,

Stay Warm and Fabulous….

Our ‘ VELVET ROYALE ‘ Tilt hat is a luxurious hat perfect for after five.

Hand made on a vintage hat blocked and covered in the most beautiful vintage gold flocked velvet , and lined in black satin and vintage gold petersham ribbon.

Attaches to the head with two comb and some millinery elastic.

Wear our ‘ VELVET ROYALE ‘ Tilted on the side or on the back of your head.

The perfect finishing touch to any cocktail outfit or any occasion.

Our ‘ BABY IT’S COLD OUTSIDE ‘ Turban is the perfect winter hat to wear everyday.

Hand blocked on an original 1960s wooden hat block into the most perfect turban hat

that sits snug onto your head for that cold winter days..add your favourite winter coat and your ready to go…

Available now in Forest but can be made to order in other colours.

Our ‘ TIME AFTER TIME ‘ Tilt Hat in the most beautiful soft caramel colour perfect for winter.

Hand blocked on a vintage wooden block into the perfect 40s style tilt hat that is worn on the side of the head,

Finished with a vintage tortoise shell buckle on the back and a handmade felt hat pin in caramel and brown.

This hat is one size and has a comb on the inside to attach to the head, and also the hat pin to secure.

Our ‘ SEASONS ‘ felt beret is a classic style that can be worn everyday to dress up any outfit.

Hand blocked on a vintage wooden block from the most luxurious fur felt in a smoke grey into the perfect beret that sits effortlessly on the side of the head.

Our DOVE Cloche is a Beautiful 1920s vintage style cloche made from the highest quality fur felt in a dove grey colour way and is hand blocked on an antique wooden hat block
using traditional millinery techniques and meticulously sculptured into the perfect everyday cloche hat.

Designed to fit snug and close fitting onto the head and coming down longer on the side.

Delicately finished with an original 1920s celluloid buckle in yellow & white with rhinestones with a matching dove grey grosgrain ribbon around the crown featuring matching hand stitched yellow thread

We hope you all enjoy our new hat collection all available in our online shop & Sydney Hat Shop/Showroom

All our hats are handmade in our Sydney hat studio and are 100% Australian made using the highest quality locally sourced materials.

Thank you for supporting our small business & don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter to keep up to date with our New Arrivals, sales and news.

Much Love…

Your Milliner

Ilana x

As seen in CAMILLA'S New Collection ' PARTY LIKE'

We are so excited to have our ‘ PSYCHEDELIC ‘ Rainbow Velvet Turban featured in Camilla’s new Collection

PARTY LIKE…. Our PSYCHEDELIC Turban is the perfect turban for the party season.

Turbans

SPRING is Finally Here

SPRING is finally here , wow what a whirlwind of a year we all have had, it's been a very challenging year for all of us, I hope you have all been well and safe through this pandemic and wishing us all better times ahead.

We haven't stopped creating and have new exciting styles coming soon.
We will be adding some new coloured straw hats to our ' Folk ' Range and will have options of different brim sizes.
We have sourced some incredible sixties pattern fabrics and trims and we are excited to show you.
For our International hat lovers coming into the cooler season we haven't forgotten about you.
We will be introducing some wonderful new colours to our Felt Hat Collection you are going to love these.
So you now have the choice of hats to wear all year round
Our Hats are such beautiful high quality durable to wear everyday and will last you a lifetime.....

We have had such a wonderful response to our new ' CHRYSALIS ' collection and are selling out fast, these hats are limited and are mostly one offs due their vintage fabrics and trims so once they are gone there gone, so if you have your eye on something grab it before its gone forever

We just wanted to say a huge Thank you for all your ongoing love & support for our small business this year.
It gives us such joy to see our hats on you and you enjoying wearing them.

AUTUMN HAT SALE

AUTUMN  is finally here , time to layer up and get all cosy.
Autumn is our favourite time of the year when the sun is shining but the air is crisp and we get to wear our favourite winter coats and hats.

We are now having our Annual HAT SALE of vintage hats , some from our own personal collection.
Dating from the 1930's - 1970's.
Vintage hats starting from $15 grab a bargain , there are hats for everyone.
Don't miss out they are selling out fast.
Head over to our online boutique to view our hat sale.

We also have some wonderful new products from our new collection CHRYSALIS.
Our new collection has over 30 new styles of hat & accessories that are fun and colourful for everyday wear.
So much colour to brighten up any outfit with a late 60's early 70's vibe.
We will be featuring some of our new products in this newsletter.
Head over to our shop to view our ' CHRYSALIS' Collection.

Thank you for all your ongoing love & support for our small business.
We are so happy you love our hats and we love seeing them on you.
Please feel free to follow our Instagram account @thehouseofhats_ and tag us wearing your hats from us , we would love to see them on you.