He was called a mad hatter, but his hats were works of art. The most fashionable women in Chicago would line up to get an incredible hat from Benjamin Green-field. The hats he made were unlike any others. Bright, unusual, filled with color and imagination, his work was captivating and surprising at the same time. Among his clients were famous women such as Elizabeth Taylor and Marlene Dietrich.
Nowadays, hats are not such a relevant accessory. Most often, eccentric headwear can be seen exclusively at specialized events, such as horse races or the Met Gala charity event, where representatives of the British aristocracy often wear hats. In other cases, this accessory is used rarely. But Benjamin’s hats would still attract attention today because they are incredible. More at chicagoka.
Life and the Quest for Style
The future designer was born in Chicago in 1898. When he was barely 6 years old, tragedy struck his family. His father passed away. To feed the family, his mother began sewing hats. Benjamin left school and began helping his mother in this endeavor. Sometimes he not only helped sew but also sold hats, realizing that this would provide for his family.
In 1920, the young man opened a small hat shop with his sister Bessie. The shop was named Bes-Ben, shortened from their names Bessie and Benjamin. After eight years of work, they already had 5 stores throughout Chicago. Their hats became a decoration for many local fashionistas.
At first, Benjamin’s hats were created in the traditional style of those years. But during the war and post-war periods, he realized that something needed to be changed. In one of his interviews, he said that everything that causes laughter or a smile in people during the times of world history has its own special justification.
By the early 1940s, he had moved away from the traditional style and towards a more surrealistic one. Benjamin skillfully combined his sense of humor and style in original hats.
He used not only quality fabrics for decoration but also anything he could find. This could be anything. Kitchen utensils, napkin holders, even miniatures of furniture and animals.
The Mad Hatter of Chicago
Due to his eccentric, funny, and non-traditional designs, he began to be called the mad hatter of Chicago. But he just smiled at it and understood that it was another step towards popularity. Benjamin’s clients were difficult to call ordinary average women, because the cost of his hats ranged from $300 to $1000. But he also had his own little tradition – every summer he held a big sale where hats could be purchased for just $5. Famous Hollywood actresses such as Elizabeth Taylor, Marlene Dietrich and Judy Garland ordered hats from him. Even fashionistas from New York came to Chicago to buy a stylish accessory from the famous Benjamin Green-field.
Once, he was creating a hat for Hedda Hopper specifically for the premiere of the film The Razor’s Edge. So this hat was decorated with real razor blades. It looked quite impressive and dangerous.
Stylish Businessman
Benjamin also maintained the Bes-Ben brand style. He loved bright outfits and could spend hours selecting clothes and accessories just to go for a walk. He loved cashmere and jewelry. Moreover, it is said that his wardrobe could have been envied by the biggest fashionistas in the world. In addition, Benjamin was a collector and on every trip he made, he always bought decorative items, which he brought home and always found a place for them. In one of his stores on Michigan Avenue, there was a collection of pillows that Ben brought from different parts of the world. Moreover, this store was considered a popular and fashionable place for meetings.
In addition to his great style, Ben also had a talent for business. Many people he worked with considered him a talented businessman. Moreover, he clearly understood how to advertise his product to the audience and promote it on the market. His summer sale for $5 was considered a great way to attract attention to other new collections.
There were cases when people lined up in the middle of the night to get a hat from Benjamin, which he simply threw into the crowd for free. In just 1.5 hours, he could completely empty the store, which on average had 400 different models. After this event, the store closed for a few weeks to celebrate the big sale.
Afterwards, Benjamin set off on his world travels in search of new materials and inspiration. It is said that he traveled around the world over 50 times.
Bes-Ben Today
Benjamin was a prolific designer, so some of his hats can still be found today. If you want to buy an original Bes-Ben hat, you can purchase it at online auctions or from vintage sellers. However, it is very important to verify its authenticity because many people try to forge hats from the famous Bes-Ben house. Prices for such purchases can vary widely, but some models are still in demand among collectors and connoisseurs. One of Benjamin’s works, called Independence Day, was sold at auction for a record-breaking $18,000. The hat was adorned with the American flag, as well as red, white, and blue firecrackers and stars. Throughout Benjamin’s many years of work, his creations were actively collected and preserved by the historical community of Chicago. They were the ones who first held an exhibition of Benjamin’s work, which showcased 200 different pieces. The exhibition was held in 1976. In 1984, the community funded a second exhibition of the artist’s work. It had a rather unique name, The Wit and Fantasy of Benjamin Green-Field. In addition to his works and the most interesting hats, this exhibition presented items from his personal wardrobe and home furnishings, which were no less original and interesting. In 1988, the historical community building underwent a major renovation. After this restoration, the Benjamin Green-Field Gallery was established in the building. The collection of hats is still preserved here.
Another large museum has a fairly large collection of Benjamin’s hats. The website of the Indianapolis Museum of Art presents some of his works. In 2018, a special exhibition of Benjamin’s work was held and a famous fashionista and blogger attended it. She wore her own Bes-Ben hat and took a large number of great photos. By the way, in her blog, the girl describes the story of how she received a baseball cap from Bes-Ben.
In fact, this cap was originally made for Bill Veeck’s wife, the owner of the Chicago White Sox team. Now, the blogger has donated this cap to the museum as a gift, so that everyone can enjoy the art of the crazy milliner.
The success of the Bes-Ben company was so great that Benjamin was eventually able to become a philanthropist. In 1987, he established the Benjamin Green-Field Foundation, which helps to improve the lives of children and elderly people living in Chicago. The organization continues to work and fulfill its mission today.
Benjamin passed away at the age of 90 in his hometown, and his hats still evoke admiration and awe for his talent and sense of humor.