New Special Hats at Dark Garden

I just delivered a passel of new hats to Dark Garden in San Francisco today. Perfect for holiday gifts or the Edwardian Ball! In addition to several of the new styles available also in our Etsy shop, I've been brewing up some special styles, many of them one-of-a-kind. Here are some quick snapshots of the latest batch.

Ah, nostalgia. This is a 'Kit Kat', one of my earliest styles, a petite mini bowler. Tweedy chocolate brown fur felt, trimmed with a cockade in vintage ribbon and distressed veiling. This one and the red one that follows will probably be the *last* 'Kit Kats' I make (I'm moving to a slightly larger mini bowler soon), unless they're requested, so grab them while you can or contact me about a custom order. 

A tweedy red 'Kit Kat' with a classic cockade and big spray of red feathers.

The following are all a preview of some new styles that will be released in my Etsy shop by mid-2014- if you'd like to order any of these before that, contact me for a custom order.
 
Here's the 'Mattie'. Made with long-nap felt on our short, John Bull style mini top hat block, trimmed with super fancy feathers and an antique Victorian buckle brooch. More similar to this are coming soon, but only *two* of these brooches are available, so if you like the look, better snatch one up while they last. FYI some of the feathers on this hat come from our cruelty-free exotic feather supplier and unfortunately are not available for shipment outside the US, due to trade restrictions. But, if you like the look I can put together something equally awesome that will pass customs for international customers, just ask.

Here's the 'Marlene'. It's a taller mini top hat in long-nap felt with vintage ribbon and a big faceted jet button. I might change it a bit, so consider this a one-of-a-kind piece. I'll be making this one next year with different ribbon and possibly other changes- there was only enough of this extra-wide antique ribbon for one hat!

Another preview style- 'Mrs. Belzoni' will officially launch in 2014 in four colors- black, and also in hunter green, navy and cherry red, all with black trim. The long, hand-curled pheasant feathers are gorgeous- they're dyed to match the felt, but with their natural markings showing through the color and have amazing iridescence that doesn't show in these photos. Be an early adopter and get one now before they're all over the place.

And, one last little beauty. This is 'Therese', a petite mini top hat in gorgeous medium gray velvet-finish felt with a cockade in silver, black and white striped ribbon, delicate black silk veiling, and a big spray of black rooster hackle feathers. Stripes + cockades = fantastic. I'll also be making these in other striped combinations for 2014. 

If any of these strike your fancy, head on over to Dark Garden or contact me by email at (tricia @ house of nines design. com) - with no spaces in the address- for mail order. Dark Garden is also carrying House of Nines Design hats in a special display each weekend of Dickens Fair, so be sure to look for it!

Meet 'Mrs. Belzoni'

I have a soft spot for fezes. Here's a quick shot of the latest: 'Mrs. Belzoni':

Welcome 'Endora'

And last (but certainly not least) for this batch of our Fall / Winter 2014 collection comes 'Endora', a very special new mini style.

I can't tell you how excited I was when I found the crown block used to shape this hat for sale earlier this summer (for more on hat blocks and how they work, see this previous post). Over the years, I've seen lots of images of 1930s and 1940s hats made in a similar shape, when Elsa Schiaparelli's tiny top hats and other 'doll' hats were all the rage, and a handful of the actual vintage hats here and there, but the original hat blocks for those styles are very rare. So whenever I come across one, I snatch it up. And this one is so witchy, I couldn't resist!

Made with deliciously soft fur felt from our luxury felt supplier in a gorgeous deep navy blue, the 'Endora' is trimmed with a top-stitched matching felt band and chartreuse vintage silk veiling draped around the base of the hat. Three hand-cut ostrich feather pompoms complete the composition, one each in apple green, gold, and burgundy.

While it has a high-peaked crown, the headsize of the 'Endora' is only 19.5", so any size can wear it as a mini. Paired with a slightly domed round picture brim that beautifully frames the face.

One of the things I like best about this hat is how the brim looks different from every angle, so I've included lots of photos.

Available now in our Etsy shop. This is the only color combination for the 'Endora' in our catalog for this season, but the materials are available in other colors. If you might be interested in this shape in other colors or with different trim, just let us know, we're always happy to discuss custom orders.

The Power of 'Pluff'

Next up: our newest mini, the 'Pluff' pillbox.

This ladies whimsy is made from deliciously soft fur felt with a huge ostrich feather pompom. The pillbox shape is mini- just 1.5" high and 4.5" across. Each feather strand is selected and placed within the trim individually by hand according to size, and to create the distinctive pop of color at the center, for maximum effect.

Lilac with purple and hot pink trim.

Black with black and white trim.

 

 Turquoise with light and dark turquoise trim.

All of these are available for sale now in our Etsy shop. Want a different color? Just ask, we're always happy to discuss custom orders.

The 'Deville' Wide Fedora

Looking for a wide, floppy fedora for fall? This is the one you need.

This soft ladies hat is made from lush fur felt from our luxury felt supplier, trimmed with a ribbon band and bow. The brim is very wide and tends to dip down flirtatiously over the eyes. Offers a huge amount of sun protection. Comes fitted with a ribbon sweatband.

This one in petrol (dark teal) with aqua trim.

And also in black with gunmetal gray trim.

Both color combinations are available for sale now in our Etsy shop. Thinking about a different color? Let us know, we're always happy to discuss a custom order.

Another New Style: 'Ilsa'

The 'Ilsa' ladies hat was inspired by a popular peaked-crown style from the 1930s and 1940s that we just had to try out.

Made in soft fur felt from our luxury felt supplier, and trimmed with luscious rayon velvet ribbon. The brim is wide enough in front to dip down over one eye, if you feel like a flirt, and to offer sun protection. The peak in the crown has a pork-pie style shape in the center.

Magenta with periwinkle trim.

And basic black.

 

The 'Ilsa' in both colors is available for sale now in our Etsy shop. Have another color in mind? Just let us know! We're always happy to do custom work.

Introducing the 'Jesse' Riding Hat

Another brand new shape for Fall / Winter 2013: The 'Jesse' riding hat.

This soft riding hat has a low crown paired with a curvaceous brim that dips down flirtatiously over the forehead. The overall shape is something between a top hat and a bowler, and the deep upside-down ' U-shape of the brim hugs the head as it perches slightly on top. Trimmed with three vintage engraved metal coins (transit, 'amusement' and good luck tokens), and two feathers. Comes with a ribbon sweatband.

Offered in two colors to start. This is chocolate brown with brown and white striped turkey feathers.

The second color is charcoal gray, with blue / green parrot feathers. Each feather in my collection is different, so the exact colors and patterns on them will vary, making each hat a unique item.

I've been buying feathers from an incredible aviary in Oregon that has rare and beautiful birds. The birds there have a really nice life, are housed in no-cruelty conditions, and all the feathers are harvested when the birds molt naturally (or when, sadly but inevitably, they die of old age or natural causes). The aviary has a special license to have these birds and sell their feathers. Because of the way they're collected, the feathers are in short supply and only available twice a year, very limited and special. Due to trade restrictions and to comply with US law, I'm able to sell these parrot feathers to customers within the US only (i.e. no international sales).  I'll be writing another blog post soon to profile the aviary soon with more information on their business.

The chocolate 'Jesse' is available now in our Etsy shop. If you would like to purchase the charcoal one, please contact us directly to arrange the order.