Tuesday, March 22, 2011

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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8 comments:

Joi said...

Hats I love too, but don't really have the face/head for them. My daughter has a hat head...like you...ha. Wears them well, although she doesn't have a hatish fettish yet like yourself...it's developing. I'm sharing this post with her. I can see you in so many of these...except for that huge one, girl that would swallow you up. (Purchase for your collection, but for icandy only). Great read! Of course my favorite is you and sissy. Too cute!

Cynthia Fox-Giddens said...

Great photos of hats and they really do add to an outfit. The picture of you in the cute hat shows this was going to be one of your fave fashion accessories :-)

Evelyn said...

I love, love, love wearing hats. From my pink veiled pill-box to my late father's Stetson. Have quite a few vintage ones that I got from a great aunt and I am desperately searching for a millnerer who can either repair or re-work them. I am forever stalking the Goorin Brothers, Eugenia Kim and Lola Hat websites for additions to my collection.

Alexandra said...

Great post! I want a big huge floppy hat so badly, just like the one Samantha from SATC is wearing there!

Alexandra xo

http://tovogueorbust.com/

Anonymous said...

me gusta mucho tu blog, las fotos son muy bonitas!!

http://elbasaez.blogspot.com/ http://beyourselfp.blogspot.com/

Bren @ B So Chic! said...

Joi: i think someone that doesn't have a had head can make something work... maybe a headpiece, a scarf or a very certain type of hat. I hope you shared this post with you daughter.

Cynthia: I've been a hat queen ever since and I love it!

Evelyn: i love your passion for them. aren't they just the best? i'm loving a that pink veiled pill box. I have a pink veil cocktail, but not quite a pill box. I'd love to see pics of your hats. I don't have any friends that are really into them so i get a lot of compliments. oh, and i'm searching for a milliner too, so if i find one, i'll let you know.

Alexandra: ooh, there are so many wonderful floppy hat options. i have a huge one i'm about to share in my next post. i def. couldn't get away with Kim's... i have a small frame.

Elba: gracias amor. voy a visitar el tuyu tambien. espero que me siguas... ;)

Cat said...

I love that hats are coming back in a big way! I namely wear a hat for sun protection in the summer but it is great that it is a fashionable accessory now too!!!! :)

Unknown said...

I wish more people would wear hats, love watching old movies and seeing all the great hats. I'm a hat lover, if you can't tell, and was so glad that the floppy hat was in trend last season and continues on this season.
~Giselle
http://www.machinewashwarm.blogspot.com

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