Some women – and no doubt the odd man – dream of having an entire closet for their shoes. Yet Amanda Johnstone does not suffer from a foot fetish. The fascination for her lies at the other end of the scale, with hats. And rather than a closet, she has a whole mansion in which to house them. Though not literally a palatial residence, The Hat Mansion speaks to how grand one should feel when wearing a hat.

The boutique deals in authentic Panama hats from Equador, berets from France and a few pieces from home-grown mad hatters such as Crochetta. One of the highlights is New York hat designer Eugenia Kim. Eugenia’s hats have capped off the look of so many rock stars, movie stars and reality tv “stars” they deserve their own paparazzi contingent. It’s also worth stopping by just to see W.A designer Reny Kestel’s work. This rising star uses edgy leather, rose thorns and even real beetles for her work-of-art millinery.

The Hat Mansion

www.thehatmansion.com.au

0415 692 284

109 Greville Street, Prahran

Opening Hours: Monday-Saturday  – Midday-6pm, only closed on Sundays