Spaghetti Western Punk!

Well.. A change from the normal!  I was a little challenged last week by a request from a musician to create a hat for stage performances…. He was excellent in giving me very specific criteria for the hat, but really, if you do not have the correct block, it can present some difficulties..

So… after some thought I attempted to modify my 5 piece topper block to give the exaggerated swell at the tip of the crown.  Several lengths of hat-box cord and parcel tape seems to work…

I then overlaid it all with clingfilm (slightly unsure of how to deblock the felt being that I had now stuck all five pieces of block together) and stiffened my wool felt with a large amount of stiffeners.  This hat is to be worn on a lively show, thrown around and covered with flour… so substantial in body to say the least…

And so more hard work involving a set square and some geometry…. a brim of 3.5″ all round and slightly downturned, again large amounts of stiffeners went into this felt.  I used a buckram collar and heavy duty wire for the brim and threw on lots more stiffeners to the finished shape espicially aroung the head line.

 

And the finished article; virtually indestructible but I am awaiting the roadtest reports and the images from the photoshoot.  The Shoe Doctor (Seb) around the corner kindly rivetted together the pieces of leather to make this rather fine hat band for me.  I am pleased with the shape even though the whole construction took about 2 days, meanwhile back to dainty pill boxes and le fleur!

 

OK the results, some pictures bought in to me by Jem today;

 So nice to see some images, very happy with the results!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Designing for Sassi Holford….

Sassi Holford makes beautiful wedding dresses and has a shop in Taunton, and a London branch.  Recently Sassi has been extending her range to accommodate special occassion wear; her classic and elegant outfits are perfectly constructed with an eye for fit and flattery!

I have been busy making some small hats suitable to compliment these.  Sample hats are available at her Taunton shop for trying on with the outfits….

 

  

Sassi’s Taunton shop is on The Bridge, and the website is www.sassiholford.com.

 

Royal Royal Ascot!

Oooh excited again!  Autumn Phillips chose to wear one of my hats at her outing to Royal Ascot this year!

The media comments on this were a little more complimentary than for the the larger piece I made, that she wore to the rather more formal jubilee celebrations earlier this month;  She certainly looks more relaxed and happy!  The dress is one by Sassi Holford.

I had a number of pieces at the races  but as my style is not ostentatious,  the hats rarely get picked up by the press.  Royal Ascot is as much about celebrating our sartorial eccentricities as the horse racing.  It is lovely to see the imaginative creations, however I still prefer my customers to wear the hats and outfits, not be worn by them!

Royally Commissioned!

It has been exceptionally busy recently trying to keep up with the orders for weddings, Buck House garden parties and now Royal Ascot… but nothing if not exciting! I  have been collaborating with Sassi Holford who makes beautiful elegant bridal wear and is now complimenting this with some ocasion wear at her shops in Taunton and London.  Her website is www.sassiholford.com and she also has a facebook page full of news…… The most exciting of which, for me at least, was being involved in Autumn Phillips’ (wife of Peter Phillips) outfit for the recent Royal Jubilee Service

 I supplied a choice of three styles to compliment Sassi’s outfit and Autumn chose the largest of the three, I would have perhaps set it with more of a vertical accent but  think the whole look worked for the formal occasion, she is certainly the most notable lady that I have had the privilege to hat thus far!

Christie’s collection of mens hats are due to arrive next week, and a photo shoot is planned for early July on a 1960’s open-top bus in the grounds of an elegant gothic mansion so there is currently a high level of excitement in the workshop…

 I am also introducing a few new styles which don’t include flowers, as I feel it is time for me to move on, a shot-silk netted turban in two sizes and this graphic bicorne

It is a busy time of year and satisfying to use some of the excitement and creative energy to develop some new styles as well as recreate the existing ones for the lovely customers and their fantastic outfits…

April 26th; 30’s Turbans and 70’s Bohemia

Well, so no Royal Weddings this year (yet) but lots of ladies wanting to ‘dress up smart’ for their sons & daughters’ weddings.  I am guided by the customers and choice of outfits, and a quick glance around the showroom today told me that my styles have changed dramatically in the past couple of years. 

No longer the stately ‘Queen Mother’ squarish crown and small brim adorned with curled sinamay and a few feathers, long gone the days of huge coloured lumps of straw worn either because they happen to be the exact colour of the shoes and bag, or else as something to hide under, no more tiny feather headbands as a half-hearted apololgy for not wearing something with at least a nod towards a design…. I always did feel a little ambivalent towards the ‘bunch of ostrich feathers fascinator’, as I feel, did many of the husbands of wives sporting them! 

Millinery has come far recently with many new milliners driving the creative wave, and many new courses and places to study the craft.  Creativity with one’s look can be daunting, but it is wise to positively choose something than wear it ‘because one is expected to’; if it doesn’t make you feel, and look, amazing then there seems little point.

A good design works with the features and outfit and enhances the overall look, does not look out of place, but also says something about the wearer.   It is often the case that it is not difficult to come up with a choice of designs that suit the wearer, the outfit, and are appropriate for the occasion, but is more difficult to have the customer feel relaxed and comfortable in one of them;  Please note that wearing something small (see little feather fascinators) just because you may feel it is not so noticable, can draw more unwelcome attention because your overall look will not be in balance.

Apologies for no new pictures, but planning a photo shoot as soon as the new gentlemen’s hats arrive.  My gallery is not really representative of the full range, however it is always best to come in and have fun trying on the samples, which is what they are for, rather than try and envisage yourself in one from a photograph!

There has been recent creative progress in the development of the toque/turban (reminiscent of the 30’s), and large unconstructed shapes suitable for weraing with more diaphanous outfits and maxi-dresses (70’s)…………  I find there is always room for new derivations of classic and modern styles…… photos soon!