Every year around November 25th, the French fashion industry commemorates St. Catherine's Day with Catherinettes, single women in the couture sector, donning extravagant green-and-yellow hats. This practice, originally a medieval Catholic holiday, provides these women with a rare opportunity to engage with their bosses and exhibit their unique style. Historically considered spinsters at 25, the hats symbolize their marital availability. Scholars like Sophie Kurkdjian liken this custom to a dating platform for artisans, where their bold headgear conveys social messages of hope and partnership, wrapped in a rich cultural narrative.
Historically, the Catherinettes, known as single women working in haute couture ateliers, donned festive hats to celebrate St. Catherine's Day, symbolizing availability to marriage.
The tradition of the Catherinettes serves as a unique blend of fashion and social customs, echoing a historical quest for love in the high-stakes world of couture.
Sophie Kurkdjian compares the hat-wearing tradition to a form of dating app for the petites mains, signifying a public display of romantic intent in their attire.
The color and extravagance of the Catherinettes' hats range in symbolism, reflecting various interpretations of hope, faith, family, and perhaps even the decorative codes of their houses.
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