Of Hats. Of Many Hats.

Lisa Wu and me at some Housewives party.

The W rooftop party for 4th of July.

Making flan for guests. 

At a cooking gig.

In some caves in Mexico.

With writers in Mexico.

Chris Rock and me having dinner in Atlanta.

Emeril Lagasse & me after taping for his TV show.

Janelle Monae & me at Cee-Lo's party. 

At some pool party in Atlanta.

With Ike in Atlanta.

With a dear friend in Atlanta.

Hill Harper and me at some ABC taping.

Leaving church. 

Hosting a dinner party at home; Play modeling this fabulous Kaminksi.

Cee-Lo and me at a private party, circa 2007

Toasting to my birthday.

I showed you some of my inspiration for hat purchases I'm considering this season in my last post. For now, I share with you a bit of my hat obsession. Some serious. Some playful. Some practical. Some fashionable. Always stylish and appropriate!

Dates range from 2006-present, in no particular order.

Will share many more, eventually. These are pics I had quick access to, so no special or planned photography!

What's your fave?

t-b:  30s vintage bow cloche with Lisa Wu-Hartwell ; in Kokin with friend;  DC street purchase panama;  me and GA Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine in Makin fedora; cowboy in Mexico; Nordstrom floppy in Mexico; Banana Republic furfelt fedora with Chris Tucker; Kangol driver with Emeril Lagasse; Makin fedora with Janelle Monae; Shady Brady cowboy; vintage hat with added uberlarge broche with Isaac Hayes, III; vintage pimp w/plume hat; vintage men's fedora with Hill Harper; Giovannio church hat (very Prada Sp'11; Kokin 16" floppy; Makins fedora with Cee-lo;  designer cocktail hat worn here.

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The Hat: The Quintessential Accessory

I've always worn hats. Probably since I was 3 or 4. Yeah, it may have been an Easter hat, but it's relevant if you consider this vintage picture of my sister and me where I'm rocking one and she's not. Surely, I couldn't have known to want to wear it, so I give all credit to my mother.

"With the right hat, nothing else matters" -- LaPaloma Hats

My appreciation for le chapeau started developing in high school and the obsession became permanent in college. Ever since, I've been donning the hat for any and every necessary and unnecessary occasion. I have every hat style out there. The vintage pillbox; the flamboyant church hat with lace & pearls, the Stetson cowboy, 15" floppy, men's fedora's, a bowler, a vintage silk turban, mink toppers, a plume pimp hat with amazing b/w straw weaving and the list goes on and on. Surprisingly, I do wear all of them and even on good hair days, I'm quick to throw on a hat!

Some have even questioned if I have hair! I won't say my daily wear of a hat, any hat, is a problem, but it does beg lots of questions to the inquisitive and fashionably unknowing mind.

B, do you wear a weave? (this makes me laugh the most)
Do you always wear that hat (in reference to a turban hiding all of my hair)

How many hats do you have? 

Do you wear church hats? 

Have you been to the Kentucky Derby? 

Wow, you have a lot of hair! I don't think I've ever seen it (from someone I've known 18 months)

Wearing hats is not for everyone. Not everyone has a hat "head" or "face" but fortunate for me, I've been  told I do and  embrace the vibe.  It puts me in a space that few understand and all stare at! It's sexy, intimate, mysterious, bold and yet coy. 

This season, much like last, hats are all the rave, only bigger, more exaggerated and colorful! I'm super excited about everything that's out there to frolick in. From Prada's & Moschino's spring runway show to Philip Treacy's continuum in dramatic and overzealous artistic head sculptures, hats are the accessory to own.

My dressing room started as a hat room with over 200 hats and I suspect I'll be collecting some more this season. The images above are vintage, modern and my new inspirations for pieces I'll be collecting! I'll share a montage of casual pics of me in my hats next time! 

How do you wear hats?

T-B: Philip Treacy silk hat; Marc Jacobs Spring '11;  Moschino Spring '11;  Moschino Spring '11; From "The Man Who Fell to Earth, 1976 --David Bowie in fedora; Vintage cloche; Tracy Reese runway;  Issey Miyaki Spring '11 mesh hat; Floppy hat from Lauren Spring collection; Christina Hendricks in Philip Treacy (styled for LA Times July, 2010); Kim Catrell in uberlarge floppy in S&TC; Church hat from book "Crowns" by Michael Cunningham; Dioresque 2011 Spring Collection; SJP in Philip Treacy; Milliners Guild Fashion Show Spring 2011; Yohji Yamamo 2008.

photos c/o: Trendsetter.com, Style.com, Vogue.com, Michael Cunningham, Bridechic.blogspot.com, littleladylookbook.blogpost.com

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{In Need Of New Rain Boots!}

 

I'm so confused. It was 80 degrees on Sunday while I participated in the Atlanta Hunger Walk. It was a wonderful sneak peak into what's to come... and then today. 

It's cold. 

It's 45 and rainy. I had a few errands to run and I quickly went to my classic yellow wellies. Some really old school ones. But they're so beat up, I didn't want to do the disservice of messing up a relatively comfy outfit. And I really wanted to keep my yellow watch on, so bright yellow rain boots would be way to match-y match-y. Right!

Hence, some kick ass lace-up and tie boots I found hiding in the back of my closet by Donald Pliner to pair with the most comfy pair of leggings my mom bought me at T.J. Maxx. These are the kind of boots I used to love wearing with long maxi skirts, short dresses, skinny jeans and sometimes flirty skirts. So glad we're reacquainted. Their ruggedness comes just in time for a messy walkway and splitter splatter streets.

And, by the way, much like the Fendi pumps I showed you a couple of weeks ago, isn't it great to find oldies but goodies in your closet?! Is that a sign of having too much or just not loving those things the same as the items on constant rotation? I speak of both the boots and the blue bag-- both so apropos for the weather.  Love it. 

Now if I could only buckle down and buy some new rubber rain boots, I'll be good. 

Striped henley from Old Navy // Floral leggings from T.J. Maxx // Reed Barton vintage owl pendant necklace// vintage Sarah Coventry long chain // H&M sleeveless sweater & trench // Donald Pliner boots // Nylon & leather bag by Cerrutti 1881 // vintage cord fedora // Vernier watch // s.s rings purchased in Mexico

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Mssr. Louboutin, I Want To Be Your Latina Muse. {Open Letter to Christian Louboutin}

It's quite simple. I love your shoes. I wear them well, though I don't own a pair, admittedly. I talk about them all the time and with wreckless abandon. My friends think I have a secret closet affair with shoes that yet exist on my shelves. I lust them on all social media realms with links to where my shoe-loving girlfriends can buy.  I've proposed to surrender some of my most prized possessions for a single pair. And ultimately, my mission every morning is to work hard, to hustle my ass off to afford one of your pricey artistic creations. 

Honestly, just last week I seriously considered buying the "Daffodile" in teal. But then I started thinking about the amount of people that are hungry and how my money would be better spent helping them eat.  But it doesn't take away the fantasy of wearing a 6" skinny stiletto with a beautiful dress or even my Rock Republic jeans and motorcycle jacket. I relish in the thought of how lovely a pair would look accessorized with one of my 250 hats. 

For now, I'll continue to lust and throw my positive energy to wind with a prayer that one of your shoes or two will make their way to my feet. An admission: I do love to see my Latina sisters like Jennifer Lopez, Christina Milian and Zoe wearing your shoes, but it saddens me that I only see starlets rocking the death-defying shoe. Every-day ladies with deep-rooted appreciation and unbreakable affection for your craft, should have an opportunity, too. 

So, through this letter, I'm putting myself out there, available to you. I'm here if you need a pretty and sassy chica, standing 5'1", weighing 125 to fiecerly wear and be the face of your red sole brand. Iv'e been to Pigalle. I understand the red. And, after all,  I do make a shoe look orgasmically delicious!

Sincerely, 

Bren-

From the desingers' Spring 2011 Collection. All of the shoes below are on my lustlist. 

Top to Bottom: 

4A python bootie.

Futura ankle bootie. The ones Gwyneth rocked during the Grammy performance with Cee Lo.

Lady Peep painted python. Heidi Klum was seen in these at the Grammy's.

Daffodile Strass stiletto. Beyoncé was seen in these and just about every other CL.

Viva Boom Espadrille Wedge. Pure hotness and sex appeal in a very casual way.

Lady Daf with ankle strap in python. Mustard color is amazing, too! This is more my stilo! 

Luxura studded pump. Comes in White and black, too. Utter sexiness. Delicious all around. 

Pampas leather swirl cut out pump.

Elisabeth peep-toe mule. This brings the sassy Latina out of me. Some salsa dancing will ensue.

Miss Cristo leather cork wedge. 

*images collected from all over the Internet

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