An Agatha Natchez Witch Honeycomb two sided hat

My best hat yet! Two sided with gorgeous graphics and loaded with details. Antique vintage Petit Choices metal direct Victorian figures take center stage in each bow. Fabulous trims and deep black honeycomb inserts. Large and full of antique designs! 

October Has Come to Natchez

By six o’clock, the pumpkins had been brought in from the veranda.

They were arranged beneath the old marble table in the entrance hall—The candles had been lit early, although there was still a little daylight lingering beyond the French doors.

And Agatha sat alone.

Her newest hat was magnificent. Hattie, her families dearest friend, had made all the hats for the party 

No one remembered precisely when the tradition of dressing Agatha for Halloween had begun. There were several versions of the story, and the family had long ago learned that asking Agatha herself was useless.

Agatha never tells.

Outside, Natchez seemed to be holding its breath.

October had arrived on the calendar, but the Mississippi heat had refused to leave with September. The air was heavy and absolutely still. Not a curtain moved. Not a leaf stirred beyond the windows. Even the enormous live oaks seemed exhausted by the evening.

Somewhere in the back of the house, ice was being carried into silver buckets.

Glasses were being polished.

A phonograph was being tested.

And every door that could possibly be opened had been thrown wide in the vain hope of finding a breeze.

Tonight there would be a party.

A Halloween party.

Which presented the lady of the house with a problem.

She had planned something much grander.

Velvet, originally. But it’s too sweltering for this night air, she lamented 

At five o’clock she abandoned the entire idea.

“No one,” she announced upstairs, “has ever enjoyed Halloween while perspiring in velvet.”

So another costume was found.

Something lighter.

Something wonderfully ridiculous.

Orange and black paper rustled around her as the final pins were put into place. A great sunburst of pleated paper framed her head. Her skirt was covered with grinning jack-o’-lanterns and black diamonds, and across the bodice smiled the largest pumpkin in Natchez.

It was hardly dignified.

It was perfect.

She descended the stairs just as dusk began gathering in the hall.

And then she stopped.

There was Agatha.

Waiting.

The lady of the house looked at her.

Agatha looked straight ahead.

For a moment neither moved.

“Well,” the woman finally said, smoothing her paper skirt.

“You certainly dressed for the occasion.”

The candles flickered.

Somewhere deep inside the house, the first notes of music began.

Outside came the distant sound of an automobile making its way up the drive.

The first guests.

The lady smiled.

Soon the quiet rooms would be filled with laughter. Champagne glasses would clink beneath the chandeliers. Paper decorations would tremble in the warm night air. Someone would dance too enthusiastically. Someone would lose a hat. And before midnight, at least one guest would swear that the woman in the old portrait had changed expression.

It happened every year.

The lady reached out and gently straightened one tiny bow on Agatha’s extraordinary hat.

“There,” she whispered.

Then she stepped into the doorway to greet her guests.

Behind her, Agatha remained beneath the portrait, surrounded by pumpkins and candlelight.

Silent.

Watchful.

And dressed considerably better than everyone else.

October had finally come to Natchez.

Inspired by the charming paper Halloween decorations of the early 1900s, the Victoria William Collection is delighted to present a new series of handcrafted Vintage-Inspired Paper Halloween Hats.

Each design has been lovingly created by hand—from mischievous owls, ghosts, black cats and glowing jack-o’-lanterns to crescent moons, vintage ribbons, and timeless Halloween charm. “A honeycomb insert is color coordinated for every hat.  These are two sided hats unless mentioned otherwise. Attaching both front and back together.

✨ Collector’s Savings

Ordering 10 or more hats? Please message me for special pricing and availability.

Each hat is handcrafted to order and produced in limited quantities for the 2026 Halloween season.

Thank you for supporting my small business and for helping preserve the charm, artistry, and nostalgia of vintage Halloween for another generation.

With warmest autumn wishes,

Stephanie