Bourbonnais "Two Hello" Hat

The Two Hello Hat or "Biche tout de suite" Hat

In the Bourbonnais region, the two hello hat is a hat that women wore over a white embroidered muslin cap with reinforced edges to lift them up. It is made of braided straw, decorated with velvet ribbons, embellished with a fine straw braid.

Originally, this women's hat is lined with blue or red fabric. In this case, we can also make it to order.
The hat consists of a small round crown in the middle, connecting two volutes. The first one lowers at the front to frame the face; the second is raised at the back.
It is also called a "biche tout de suite" hat or "bige tout de suite" hat, as this headwear for women offers the possibility of kissing without removing it.
Oral tradition suggests that this hat was introduced from Italy following the wars that broke out at the end of the duchy.

Its oldest form would be very close to the one worn in a drawing by Michelangelo.
It is possible to make the original hat with the fabric and accessories on top depending on the region.

This hat has a very original shape; this headwear has become the symbol of the Bourbonnais although it was more generally worn from the Moulins region to Saint Pourçain sur Sioule. In the Center and North of Bourbonnais, "Bonjour" refers to the visor of a cap or the brim of a hat, so the Bourbonnais hat is a hat with two "bonjours" since it has two brims.
Unlike the southern regions, the term "Bé" is used.

This hat is also called 'Biche tout de suite' or 'Bige tout de suite', as it allows kissing without removing the hat, which is very convenient!

It has also been given other names such as: hunting horn bonnet, tilting hat or Batelet hat.

About the Bourbonnais hat

• The diameter of the crown is 16 cm with a crown height of 7 cm; the brims are 10.5 cm.
• Composition: 100% natural straw
• Hat handmade in France