A Poll: the Modern Corset

Designing fall/winter hats, which leads to thinking about clothing in general. Specifically at the moment: the corset. Not as a costume, but reviving it as part of the modern wardrobe. Corsets were the foundation (literally & figuratively) of ladies clothing for hundreds of years, until fairly recently. This is a poll: ideas, anyone? What would you want a modern daywear corset to be like? What would you wear it with?

Fall / Winter 2010 / 2011

Last fall / winter, I approached each hat I made as its own piece of art, but without much thought to an overall plan for design for the season. I'm shifting gears now, planning a themed collection for F/W 2010/11.

I'm in the final planning stages now, I've got my shapes lined up, and am now choosing colors and trims.

Also starting to think about putting together a hat and fashion show for the collection.

New Photos of Vintage Hats

For your viewing pleasure, I just added 475 new photos of vintage hats to my Flickr page.

Here are some of my favorites.

A little boy's straw sailor cap, circa 1890.


A classic silk plush top hat with box, circa 1900.



A fluffy puffy ostrich thingy from the late 1930s.



A draped hat from the 1940s, with a corseted back surprise.



The ingenious Dobbs 'Pocket Hat' trilby in red fabric. Looks like cotton. I assume that this is a packable hat that won't crush if flattened.


A crazy pop-over shaped hat. From the 1960s? Satin fabric, sewn construction.

Vintage Hat of the Week: 1940s Checkerboard Boater

For this week's vintage hat, I've chosen a fantastic 1940s 'doll' hat in black and white plastic straw.

'Duchess' Tricorn on sale now

I just listed the 'Duchess' tricorn hat on Etsy and Smashing Darling.

This one is made up in a beautiful silvery sage green, with matching ribbonwork, including a line of pleated edging around the brim, and a big 2-tone cockade.


Two sides are fastened up with ribbon bows.


The brim shape is slightly asymmetrical, with the side holding the cockade folded up slightly higher than the others.







Finished with long, long, long Lady Amherst tail feathers. Perfect for Pirate Fest, or any other fun summer events coming your way.

London Miscreants, 1904

A few drunkards arrested for disorderly conduct in 1904. Despite bad behavior, most managed to keep track of their hats. If you're not wearing a hat right now, what's your excuse?

This hat actually looks straight out of Jean Paul Gaultier Spring 2010. I love it!!!


Pretty sharp for a drunkard:


Fashion forward! I'm thinking he's a time traveler from a Fellini film.


Oh no.


This guy's name is 'Dirty Dick'. Honestly.


For more photos, see the full article from London's Daily Mail.

Bonus Hat of the Week: The Straw Saucer

I woke up this morning dreaming of hats like this and had to share. Thinking about making one based on this shape for bridal.

'The White Hat' by Jean-Baptiste Greuze, 1780


And, an unmarked straw saucer from the 1940s.






Everything old is new again. The shape of the head doesn't change, so I don't see why can't we have do-overs on a great idea.