Thanks to all the ladies who happily joined in and also let me put up these pics!!  The clearing up took a while though………………..

coconut fibre, dyed, stiffened & textured…. works well with pineapple fibre for a finer, more shiny look too.

dyed, stiffened & textured silk flowers….under a coolie hat.

I am enjoying making own silk flowers using habotei silk and silk organdie which I dye and stiffen before manipulating into shape… Not as time consuming as it sounds and with lace or veiling makes really pretty styles….

And  2 substantial headbands….  Easy to wear and ideal for building a hair-do around.  A modern approach to the Queen Mother Toque but without the ‘lid’!

Felts made to order from own designed blocks - hopefully nothing too similar available elsewhere!!  It is good to mix up colours and trims; easily fastened on with hat pin so the hat becomes versatile.  I like to use a heavy felt which can withstand the weather.

Thanks to Eva, Nikki, Debbie & Ali for a fun afternoon playing at dressing up !

A popular style right now is the above two tone straw with hand made silk & velvet flowers.  This one in olive greens/cream, and the below example in silver greys/black.

And soon to come some pictures of the shop as it fluffs up its plumage for the  new season.. a photo shoot this saturday should hopefully beget a well overdue new gallery page of recent designs!

 

Once again the season changes faster than ever and I feel I still havn’t properly explored my summer designs let alone had chance to introduce any A/W pieces into the showroom……..   Possibly if I was a fashion designer I could say I am working 3 seasons in advance rather than 1 behind but that would be lying!

I have been weighing-up the possibilities of tweeds and knits for an affordable range of stylish everyday hats for women, principally as we all tend to wear weatherproof ear-warming hats in the winter (and for winter sports) but there’s not always a good choice available from the High St…And I don’t know why anybody would make hats out of synthetic fibres – acrylic never kept anybody warm.

So; functional, stylish & affordable…… looks like I have some work to do to ensure I don’t recreate the tea cosy or the Paddington Bear look…

 This sculptural cloche is the result of experimenting with a basic cheap wool felt and an idea that it is time to offer this style as a thrifty, but striking, option.  There is one major problem with the close fitting almost brimless style in that it does not easily suit everyone or their hair styles.  It only takes 1 try to find out though!

This is the one.. the most popular style for almost a year now - it works so well in different colour ways but can be time consuming dividing and sticking seperate stripped hackle feathers!

There is a second place and a runner-up.. which I shall reveal in time as it now almost time to update the styles for a new season.

I generally get the felt out about now for some heavier weight wintery styles but strict adherence to seasonal rules seem to no longer apply - especially as many winter weddings happen abroad.  I have, though, been experimenting with making silk flowers, stiffening and dyeing silk and manipulating into styles, they are almost a headpiece in their own right.   It is helpful not to have to rely on suppliers for flowers as they can be limiting and expensive….. I think my customers appreciate the extra individual elements to their millinery. 

I have been lucky to hat Armani Suits and Vivenne Westwood ‘Anglomania’ this week.. two ends of the constant sartorial parade I am lucky to witness.  Customers sometimes ask me where I get my inspiration.. my answer is always ‘My Customers!’

Still staying with shallow crowns and sharp angles the hats are becoming more feminine and elegant and the ‘artful dodger’ look is further relegated..  I have notied how suddenly the large brims and chunky crowns of the last few years now look quite unadventurous.. there is so much more available in millinery

and it is so much more fun to wear …  I despair of ladies who come in looking for a large black hat to wear to a summer wedding thinking that for some reason it is a flattering or sophisticated look;  Putting a large lump of black straw on your head never flatters anyone, the same with navy.  It makes the person look washed out and casts shadows  - a good look flatters the face, does not hide it, although some ladies may prefer to hide!!

For ladies hell bent on getting a large black hat - I recommend the High Street…

The trimming under the brim is a pretty look (the only hat I saw from Ascot was Kathryn Jenkins pink Phillip Treacy one (please be aware; there are other milliners) and it had a mass of roses just over her ear, it is a really pretty look.

It is good to be a little experimental, we all love dressing up ….  Things I am looking out for next season; The return of the Toque (Queen mother) and Pill Boxes worn at the back of the head (Jackie O)… It is part of a general retro trend circa 1970s..  I confidently predict this and am now rushing off to my studio to start sample pieces!