I want to run a series of blog posts about religious headcoverings. This could be approached by my doing the research and writing and finding suitable illustrations. If I did this I would not be comprehensive enough likely and I would certainly be missing the soul and passion about the particular headcovering.

I want to cover the major religions and various sects. What do the clerics wear and what do the followers of the religion or sect wear? I would need to know the history of the particular headgear and if it was associated with a particular historical individual.

Could you provide me with some thoughts on this, including some contacts who might be willing to contribute a guest article? There is no pay – just exposure and understanding. Anything I can do to foster understanding among religious groups would be a joy to me. I want to make it informative and respectful.

©2012 Many Hatty Returns. All Rights Reserved.

Get your (vintage) hat on for National Hat Day

(By Norma Shephard the Hat Lady)

Norma has an extensive hat collection that she shares with the world. She maintains the mobile millinery museum and costume archive. Thank you Norma for this lovely post.

If there’s anything better for the winter blahs than a new hat, it’s a new-to-you vintage chapeau. And what better way to spend National Hat Day (Jan 15th) than browsing flea markets, thrift stores, and antique stalls for that perfect, albeit dusty perhaps, millinery specimen.

Whether you’re looking for something to wear —– the sky is the limit here, just look at all of the wild and crazy new hats people are sporting these days—or a collectible with designer caché, your search will be worth the effort. While second hand shops may not be exactly brimming with old hats, there are bound to be some interesting toppers stacked, tucked, or stashed in a corner somewhere. Be sure to use your imagination when flipping through these piles. A discarded hat that needs steaming or blocking, may not at first give away its Old Hollywood charm or 1960s chic, so try to imagine the piece in its former glory.

And whether your taste for texture runs to soft and sturdy beaver felt, or rough, nubby straw, enjoy the look and feel of materials that were used to produce the millinery treasures of long ago. Linger over the labels as well, enjoying the period graphics. Examine them closely for clues as to the history of the hats.  Is the piece in your hand a Paris Original?  Does the label bear the maker’s address or contact information? Some can be found with 5-digit phone numbers. Others have managed to retain their price tag and/or original hatbox.

If you are blessed with any psychic abilities, try to discern what type of person owned the hat. Where did she go in it? What did she wear it with? You’ll soon find yourself buried in nostalgia.

Most importantly, buy the hat. Bring it home, wear it, display it on your bureau, or in some way pay tribute to the imaginative and skilled milliners of long ago. That’s what National Hat Day is for.

Lastly, if you’re in the area on January 15th, I invite you to attend my Open House Millinery Exhibit  from 2 – 4 P.M. at Heritage Place, 4151 Kilmer Drive, Burlington, Ontario. This is a free event with ample free parking. Happy Hat Day,

Norma Shephard
www.thehatmuseum.org
nshephard@cogeco.ca

©2012 Many Hatty Returns. All Rights Reserved.

This is the first podcast interview in what I hope will be a continuing series. Lisa Shaub a New York Milliner was kind enough to give me her time and discuss some aspects of the hat business and her background and business in particular.

The interview is presented in two parts and here is the first part.

Please right click here to download the mp3 file to your computer

Part 2 of the interview can be found in a later post here

The introduction and exit music is called Mornington Crescent and is Royalty Free Music purchased from Shockwave Sound. You can purchase a variety of music for you projects at their website.

In the first part of the interview goes into what it takes to be a successful milliner and how she got into the business. Also find out the craziest hat she ever made.

You can find more information about Lisa at her Website. You can also go on a virtual tour of her store on this link.

Here is a picture of the storefront of her New York Store, Lisa Shaub Fine Millinery.

Notes and references made during this part.

The Fashion Institute of Technology New York New York (FIT)

This is where Lisa received some of her Millinery training.

Ann Albrizio was one of Lisa’s instructors at FIT. This lady recently passed away earlier this year at a ripe old age. Albrizio co-authored a book on Millinery (now appears to be out of print but can be obtained second hand) entitled Classic Millinery Techniques: A guide to Making & Designing Today’s Hats (December 2001).

According to the description:

Take basic sewing skills, add half a yard of fabric, and make one of 15 custom hats designed by an award-winning milliner. More than 250 illustrations guide you from drafting patterns to creating classic, head-turning hats. Start with a shirred beret, move on to a cloche, pillbox, or sailor hat.

A couple of other Designers were referenced in the discussion.

More information about Stephen Jones can be found on his website. Here is information on where you can find Gabriella Ligenza. Examples of Ligenza’s work can be found on Pebbles Hats site.

Part 2 of this interview will be published here very shortly – please check in and stay tuned.

©2012 Many Hatty Returns. All Rights Reserved.

A few weeks ago a reader of this blog brought her You Tube video site to my attention. Lisa has a hat business in New York, New York. Here is Lisa’s latest summer cocktail hat video. Enjoy!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kw-Azs1Ak1Q

Here is the link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kw-Azs1Ak1Q

Check out her You Tube Channel

Let me know your favorite. I am very fond of the “Folies” hat with all the feathers. These Fascinator styles are becoming very popular with the younger set. Of course they cause the minimum disruption to a hair style.

Lisa is a very creative milliner and boasts hats of all kinds for all shapes of heads. This is important as many people tell me that it’s OK for me after all I look good in hats and they do not. I believe that there is a hat for everyone. You just have to find the right style for the shape of your head. My favorite style is very wide brims and high crowns. I do not feel comfortable in little hats. Really in the end the right hat for you is one YOU are comfortable wearing.

All of Lisa’s hats are hand made in New York New York. Please visit her boutique.

http://www.lisashaub.com

I have not posted much recently I am very busy learning new stuff. My plan in the not too distant future I hope is to post some You Tube videos of my own. I just bought a fancy camera and I am on a steep learning curve. I am also working on a podcast -- yes I gave been for 2 months. I’ll be taking the plunge soon. Please stay tuned for more hat fun.

If you have a millinery business please tell me about it and I can post your videos or pictures of your creations here.

Don’t worry I will be picking up the pace this week with some interesting material.

©2012 Many Hatty Returns. All Rights Reserved.

This is a guest post from Susan Beausang who sells headwear she has designed for women with medical hair loss. Thanks for the contribution Susan – Great work on this worthy cause. Please check out her site.

Think they’re just for grandmothers in the Polish countryside? Think again. Head scarves are not only one of fashion’s most versatile accessories, they have timeless appeal.

The headscarf is an intimate, personal accessory with which you can create your own unique fashion statement.  Whether you want a polished and elegant look, a casual bohemian flair, or a stay-in-place exercise accessory, 4Women.com has a head scarf for you.  Called “BeauBeaus,”   they were designed by Susan Beausang in a determined effort to be re-establish her sense of style and dignity after losing all her hair due to Alopecia Universalis. Having always been fashion-conscious, she wanted to be noticed for her unique style, not her bald head.  Not only were wigs hot and uncomfortable, she felt like she was hiding under them.  Rather than hide her head and changing identity, Susan designed a scarf with which she could make a fashion statement.  As a result, BeauBeaus are a perfect accessory for any fashion-conscious woman looking to create a style that is truly her own.

Many women shy away from head scarves, thinking they’re difficult to tie or not going to stay put.  The BeauBeau is designed to address both of those issues.  They’re “pre-tied” with an elastic band.  Once on your head, they look like they’ve been tied and styled by a pro, when in fact they’re as easy to put on as a baseball cap.  They’re also designed with long flowing tails, for a feminine look, or gathered with the elastic scrunchie.  For those who like to change their look often, these scarves come with options.  Gather the fabric at the back of the neck or slightly at the side, a la Parisiene.  The BeauBeau never slips, needs no readjustments, and comes in a wide array of fabrics and patterns.  From “Color Me Classy,” soft charmeuse printed in rich brown, lavender and burgundy, to Black and Bloom, a smart classic black and white print.  There is a fabric, style and color combination for everyone and every occasion.  How about the Pampered Headwarmer, a luscious combination of cotton jersey and cashmere?  Going running?  Try the Aqua Power exercise scarf, a stylish lycra-blend scarf with just the right amount of stretch when working out.  You may want to simply complement your hair style with a Transitional scarf, a headband with the same great pre-tied design and available in the same beautiful fabrics.

It’s no wonder that celebrities and fashion icons continue to promote head scarves as a timeless must-have accessory.  While head scarves are NOT just for women with medical hair loss, it’s nice to know that there are stylish and comfortable headwear options for those of us who refuse to surrender our style and dignity along with our hair.

Medical hair loss in women is often poorly understood and misdiagnosed.  Even when the true cause is known, there is little acknowledgment of the deep emotional impacts on women.  Fortunately, women with medical hair loss are reaching out to each other and creating resource and support groups.  Some especially helpful resources and advice can be found at:

National Alopecia Areata Foundation www.naaf.org
Alopecia World  www.alopeciaworld.com
Her Alopecia www.heralopecia.com
Bald Girls do Lunch www.baldgirlsdolunch.org

Susan M. Beausang, President
The BeauBeau: “Beautiful Scarves for Beautiful Heads”
www.4women.com

©2012 Many Hatty Returns. All Rights Reserved.