Miss Hattie’s wardrobe in Despicable Me relies on a strict, vintage schoolmarm aesthetic built from pastel pink, bold red plaid, and Victorian-inspired collar details. Her silhouette is prim and rigid, contrasting sweet candy colors with an austere, buttoned-up cut. Recreating her appearance is mostly a matter of sourcing the right vintage-cut separates and assembling the collar and brooch neatly at the neck.
Because the outfit consists of everyday garments paired together, getting the character across comes down to color blocking and the distinctive shape of her hair. A bright pink knit, high ruffled neckline, pleated skirt, and stiffly set bouffant work together so that anyone familiar with the film instantly identifies the orphanage headmistress.
The Layered Blouse, Cardigan, and Brooch
The core of Miss Hattie’s upper body is a White Ruffle Collar Blouse worn buttoned all the way to the throat. Her collar stands upright with ruffled edging framing the jawline. Over this sits a vibrant Pink Cardigan, buttoned completely up the front to keep the visual line clean and proper. You want the collar of the blouse pulled out over the round neckline of the cardigan so the ruffles lay flat against the knit fabric rather than getting tucked inside.
Fastened directly at the throat where the collar joins is a prominent Red Gem Brooch. Miss Hattie wears this large oval jewel like a Victorian cameo. Pinned through both sides of the blouse collar, the brooch anchors the neckline and mirrors the crimson shades in her skirt. If the brooch you use is on the heavier side, pinning a small square of felt behind the blouse collar prevents the weight of the metal from pulling the lightweight fabric downward.
Skirt, Tights, and Flats
For the bottom half, Miss Hattie wears a pleated, knee-length Red Plaid Skirt featuring a grid of dark red, black, and cream stripes. A pleated A-line cut mirrors her animated proportions best, sitting right at the natural waist beneath the cardigan hemline. The hem should fall right around the knee to maintain that modest, retro orphanage director look.
Her legs and feet remain simple and understated. A pair of Sheer Stockings provides a slight sheen without adding opaque color, letting the red tones of the outfit stand out. Down below, simple Red Ballet Flats match the palette without drawing attention away from the patterned skirt. Plain slip-ons with a rounded toe match the soft, rounded design language of the film’s animation better than pointed styles.
Shaping the Bouffant Wig
Miss Hattie’s hair is one of her most distinct visual traits: a sculpted, mid-century bouffant with tight inward curls and a stiff side swoop. A short Brown Wig provides the base, but you will likely need to tease the crown to achieve her exaggerated animated volume. Backcombing the inner layers of synthetic fiber at the top of the head creates the rounded dome shape she wears.
Once the crown has enough height, use a wide-barrel curling iron on low heat—or hot rollers if the fibers are heat-resistant—to curl the ends firmly inward toward the jawline. A generous coat of firm-hold hairspray locks the smooth outer layer over the teased core. Trimming and sweeping the front fringe to one side frames the face and completes her formidable mid-century hairstyle.
