Pile Poil is a relatively new store, just opened in Paris' Batignolles district...
I have been looking for a Russian-style pillbox hat. My friend in college had one and I was constantly borrowing it. Since then i have lost touch with my friend, and with her hat, and i have searched tirelessly: I gawked at elderly Czech ladies in moth-eaten fur hats in Prague (note to Prague-dwellers younger than 75 years: NO FUR HATS) pawing through thrift store stocks, sunday afternoon Ebay and Etsy trawling... i ordered one from TopShop... not so great... the color matched my hair, the shape was off. i considered ordering a REAL one from Eugenia Kim for 400 dollars.
Then I inwardly debated real vs. fake fur. My friend's hat was faux fur. I couldn't reconcile myself to a REAL fur hat. It's a statement I'm not sure I want to make, even in France, where women don't hesitate to make that statement (and no one would throw paint at you - you can eat your foie gras without a qualm here).
I thought my search for the perfect Anna Karenina, faux fur Russian pillbox hat was for naught.
Until today... I came upon Pile Poil... She has an AMAZING collection of very high quality faux fur.
Some of her "furs" ressemble real fur because the quality is so excellent. She handmakes blankets, ruffs, pillows, lovely cute jackets and stoles, and those perfect Russian hats, both with long ear flaps and the pillbox version. She has many shades and colors...
She stiffened when I told her I had been unable to commit to wearing a real fur pillbox hat. I realized that she takes the faux vs. real fur argument very seriously. So all vegans, vegetarians and animal lovers will be very happy here.
My new hat is a great reddish brown and it is VERY warm. It hasn't gotten cold enough to wear it but I feel like Anna Karenina in all my winter coats now. It was 100 euros, which I think is reasonable considering it's handmade.
She's a lovely person too. I want to help her out by writing a review.
La version française arrive... read more