“No one ever regretted buying quality.” So reads the reverse side of a business card for Lilliput Hats – a modern-day milliner on College Street.

From the bright pink door to the vintage hat boxes to the hanging chandeliers, the store is a charming place to find a hat for any number of looks. Located on the edge of Little Italy, Lilliput Hats is a traditional millinery where shoppers can browse the collections, and really watch the merchandise take shape. The all-female staff is extremely knowledgeable. While one apprentice is helping a customer, another can be found using traditional techniques to handcraft each hat in the workshop at the rear of the store.

Being able to watch the hats being made is what sets this shopping experience apart from most others in Toronto. Lilliput uses a variety of fabrics and embellishments (including velour, felts and feathers). While the couture pieces are elaborately adorned with details, the vintage hats reflect fashions past. The well-organized display features many styles and colours so that one can easily browse the stock which includes cloche and cocktail hats, among others. Also, Lilliput offers to adjust all hats for custom sizing, so you know you’ll get something that’s as comfortable as it is fashionable.