Arturo Rios' skill has been learned from the generosity of his instructors. He beleives that it is important to share his knowledge. In this spirit, we have created a collection of posts that explore core concepts of modern millenry.
These are meant as guides for millinery trade professionals, those who are curious and most importantly, our clients.
An "AR Hat" is an investment in your confidence, beauty and self-regard. We intend these articles to serve as our investment in that endevour.
Classic Forms
Arturo plays with new forms, but the classics never go out of style. In fact, AR uses classical forms as a jumping-off point to reimagine these time-honored forms.
An Elegant Summer | The 2026 Collection
The Arturo Rios 2026 Spring & Summer Collection reflects several dominant trends in high-end millinery for the season, characterized by a shift from "quiet luxury" toward bold, statement-making artistry. Architectural & High-Impact Silhouettes The collection moves...
Classic Forms: Headbands
Headbands have long been an integral element in the realm of millinery, serving not only as functional accessories but also as powerful statements of style and individuality. From their historical roots to contemporary designs, headbands have evolved dramatically,...
Classic Forms: Fascinators
Fascinators have a brief history. Originally, the term was coined by Stephen Jones in the 70s. In part, the term comes from the way fascinators are attached to the head, that is, fastened by a ribbon or a clip. But that wasn’t all that Jones had in mind when coming up...
Classic Forms: Saucers
The saucer form ("disc form" is a slight variation) in millinery is relatively new. The style can be traced to a trend in widening the brim of the hat to create a distinct profile while accommodating increasingly dramatic and sophisticated aadornment such as silk...
Classic Forms: The Veil
The Historical Importance of the Veil For centuries, European women have worn sheer veils, but only under certain circumstances. Sometimes a veil of this type was draped over and pinned to the bonnet or hat of a woman in mourning, especially at the funeral and during...
Classic Forms: The Pillbox Hat
The popularity of the pillbox hat increased during the post–World War II (1939–45) era and reached its peak at the 1961 inauguration of President John F. Kennedy (1917–1963), when his wife, Jacqueline Kennedy (1929–1994), wore a simple, unadorned bone wool pillbox hat designed by Halston (1932–1990).
A Comprehensive List of Hat Styles
Global Hats Arturo creates some very specific hats. Fascinators, discs, pillboxes. And Arturo is very knowledgeable about millenery in depth. But, we're impressed by this list of the types of hats found around the world. An Upe? It's made from tightly weaved straw....
Techniques
Subtle details can create something better than a collection of skills. This nuanced craftsmanship is featured in every hat created by Arturo.
Peacock Feathers
Nature & Craft · Couture Millinery The Pale Plume White Peacock Feathers, and the Long History Behind a Rare Feather Of all the materials that pass through a milliner's hands, few carry as much history — or as much myth — as the peacock feather. And of all peacock...
Techniques & Materials: Crystals & Gems
Crystals and gems have long been admired for their beauty and unique properties. While most people might think of them as adornments for jewelry, they have found their way into the world of fashion, particularly in hat making. From glittering gemstones to enchanting...
Millinery, Feminism and an Interview with a Doyenne
The Millinery Shop, Edgar Degas created between 1879 and 1886. It is one in a series of 27 paintings by Degas about millinery. The 2026 Vintage Fall-Winter Collection is currently being developed right now at the AR Atelier. We've recently purchased a collection of...
Details: The Essential Bow
Bows have long been a quintessential element of millinery, serving not only as decorative accents but also as powerful symbols of style and individuality. From their historical roots in hat design to their modern interpretations, bows are part of a rich mix of...
Techniques & Materials: Buckram
Buckram is a stiff cotton, or occasionally, linen or horse-hair cloth with a plain, usually loose, weave, produced in various weights similar to muslin and other plain-weave fabrics. The fabric is soaked in a sizing agent such as wheat-starch paste, glue (such as PVA...
Techniques: Silk Flowers
A signature touch of an AR hat is the use of handmade silk flowers created by fellow artists. These flowers are created by individual artisans in Eastern Europe and are complex, intricate creations. Using centuries-old crafts, these flowers add a distinctive style to...
Explore the Palette
“...and so many colors
I will have seen...
the menacing greys
and pine greens
the soft pink and purples
of spring
and summer blue
and so many others (...)”
― A touch, a tear, a tempest
Colors
Very few elements of design elicit such powerfully essential responses as color. Arturo is a master of colors presented by nature and his palette is his, and your playground.
An Elegant Summer | The 2026 Collection
The Arturo Rios 2026 Spring & Summer Collection reflects several dominant trends in high-end millinery for the season, characterized by a shift from "quiet luxury" toward bold, statement-making artistry. Architectural & High-Impact Silhouettes The collection moves...
The Non-Colors: Black & White
Color & Craft · Couture Millinery The EternalContrast On Black & White in the Art of Hats Before color theory, before trend forecasting, before pantone swatch books, there were two non-colors that quietly governed the language of elegance: black and white. In...
Colors: Red. Why Do We love it So Much?
a red flag caught red-handed red alert red ink red in the face red tape seeing red paint the town red red-eye flights red herring Red is the first color babies can see after black and white. Because red grabs attention, it’s used to warn people of danger....
Colors: Purple & Lavender & Lilac & Mauve and more
Colors: Purple Purple is a color, with over 200 different shades, similar in appearance to violet light. In the RYB color model historically used in the arts, purple is a secondary color created by combining red and blue pigments. In the CMYK color model used in...
Colors: Pink Influences
Mix red and white, and you get pink. Pink has many different shades, intensities, and variations ranging from orange-based salmons through blue-based berry tones, but for most, pink is recognized as a pale red. Pink is, however, not so simple. It is sophisticated and...
Colors: Which Blue?
TRUE BLUE Blue has a profound impact on human psychology and global culture. It is the color of trust, protection and honesty. It instills calm, peace and tranquility. Blue Origins Blue is often derived from minerals and plants although a “true blue” in both forms is...
Colors: RED & ORANGE & YELLOW
RED Red is the color at the long wavelength end of the visible spectrum of light, next to orange and opposite violet. Reds range from the brilliant yellow-tinged scarlet and vermillion to bluish-red crimson, and vary in shade from the pale red pink to the dark red...
Colors: Teal
Teal Teal combines the calming properties of blue with the renewal qualities of green. It is a revitalizing and rejuvenating color that also represents open communication and clarity of thought. For Tibetan monks, teal is symbolic of the infinity of the sea and sky,...