Summer Straws and Winter Furs

As the time until baby number two arrives get fewer and fewer, my work time has been more and more devoted to making, rather than blogging, so today is just going to be a bit of show and tell.

I've just done a complete stock changeover at The Blackheath Hub, the local shop where my hats are on sale. A full winter collection has gone in, just in time for the cooler weather, and a lot of summer hats are back in my hands.

I'll be listing these ones, for which I happily have these lovely images on my friend Ruanne, on Etsy in the next few days.

Honestly, if this floral one doesn't sell by the time it's summer here again, I'm keeping it!

Straw hats with decently large brims are a must for summer, and very flattering too.

Among the other hats I'll be listing are these versions of the 1954 Butterfly cap I reviewed for the Trove Pattern Project. I couldn't decide between red velvet and leopard print, and my Instagram friends were similarly divided, so I made both! It really is a cute pattern.

I do like bows on things. As you'll see a bit in the winter hats too!

Sadly I don't have beautifully modelled photos of these ones. The weather here has almost literally been stinking hot or raining for a month now!

There's a lot of 1960s inspiration and a lot of faux fur in this collection, with a little bit of 1940s (still fluffy though) thrown in for good measure.

I think I prefer the basic hoods in the really fluffy white fur, but the rich red has a lot going for it too. And as you can see, I'm enjoying adding pom poms to things!

My love of pixie hats continues, in furry 60s hood form this time. I've played with the shape a couple of times, and I think in future I will make some further revisions, but overall it's looking cute!

From the forties I'm exploring fur-trimmed tilt hats, with big silk bows. I swoon over these whenever I see vintage examples or illustrations, and I'm happy that I finally made one. Ok, two.

And finally, some seriously lush ear muffs. I got the idea for ear muffs on a more substantial base than just a thin band from a 1940s millinery book, but I've taken their instructions as a base and done it my own way. I'm getting really happy with them now (they are SO comfortable it is ridiculous) and once I've worked on another variation I have in mind, these are set to be one of my first sewing patterns! Look out for them in my post-maternity world. (Right now I can't think too far beyond the next five weeks, to be honest, and life is dividing into "urgent" and "later, whatever, I don't care".)

I hope that whatever season you are in, and preparing for, I've shared something to inspire you in your hat wearing! Keep an eye on the Etsy shop for the new listings (and use the discount code "uptheduff" to get 30% off from now until the shop closes for maternity leave in about two weeks), and if you happen to be a Sydney/Blue Mountains local, pop in to the Blackheath Hub to try something on!

Op Shop Makeover: Boring straw to boater hat

It's been a while since I've done a hat refashion, but with my stack of rescued op shop hats reaching to the ceiling and a desire for a boater hat to call my own, a hat makeover was calling me.

I didn't take a before picture, but I'm sure you can imagine it. A plain, round crowned, broad brimmed straw sun hat, looking a little tired and dusty, blending in with all the other perfectly respectable but a dime-a-dozen straw hats.

A bit of blocking, wiring, and trimming later...

It is far from perfect, with some flaws in the straw and my quick curve cutting, but at an estimate materials cost of under $5, I'm a happy little hat wearer.

If I don't look it, it's just a reflection of how I feel about taking photos of myself.

Celebratory milkshake time!

Now to take some inspiration from these stylish boater-wearing ladies as I strut around in this during the last of the summer sun.

A Pink Straw Boater Hat and Vintage Cherries

One of the reasons I started my "How to Wear..." series with boater hats (along with finding such great inspiring images to use), was that I was working on completing my own boater hat.

I started this hand-sewn straw braid boater an embarrassingly long time ago, at the 2014 International Millinery Forum, in a class with (my favourite) millinery teacher Jan Wutkowski. Indecision about the finishing details and trims meant this one was on the shelf all that while. I'm so glad it's finally done!

And I really love it! It was a lot of work, but totally worth it, and I really want to start another one now. I'll add it to the list...*sigh*

For trims I've gone with some vintage millinery cherries that I've been itching to use, velvet leaves (a current obsession of mine!) and a black braid band.

Modelled by the stunning Lucy at our perfect Blue Mountains lookout location. We had so much fun exploring the many similar-but-subtly-different background options with all the different hats (more to come!).

It was also great to try the hat at different angles. I love the look of the forward tilt, but I think for everyday wearability I would be going with the back of the head. What do you think?

This happy summery number has gone into my etsy shop today.

If I do get to another one anytime soon, I'm thinking of a robin's egg blue. What do you think? What other colours do you think would suit the boater style? I'd love to hear your opinions in the comments.

How to Wear a Boater (Sailor) Hat

Today I'm bringing you the first of new type of post, which I hope to do more of in the future. I'm focusing on a particular hat style again, but this time, on inspiration for styling outfits that suit the hat style.

The hat of choice for today is a boater hat. A vintage style popular from the 19th century onwards, these hats feature a flat crown and small-medium brim, and are usually made from straw.

When worn by a woman, this style of hat was more traditionally called a sailor hat, and (like most hat styles) the feminine versions are often more varied. These days, we tend to use boater regardless of gender.

I've scoured the internet (ok, Pinterest) for some great looks that feature boater hats. I'm bringing you the best photos from some stylish bloggers who wear a boater really well. All the images are copyright to the bloggers, used here with their permission, and each one links back to the blog post about that outfit (with more photos!).

Boater hats make me think of summer and associated activities, particularly boating (obviously) or riverside picnics, so I love them with slightly nautical colour schemes, and bright colourful summer dresses. I also think of Edwardian silhouettes, and Eton schoolboys. To me, boaters are unquestionably cheerful and fun, and just made for sunny days.

We start with Bonita from Lavender and Twill. She recently purchased this vintage yellow boater and this charming photo is from her first outfit post to feature the hat. This soft pastel colour suits Bonita's signature style so well. It tops off a beautiful summery look (although I suppose it is clearly autumn in the photo!) with such light bright colours and perfect vintage style.

Carelia of the blog My Small Wardrobe has worn her traditional straw boater for a range of Fourth of July outfits in classic red-white-and-blue colours, that are echoed in the colours of the hat itself.

She pairs her boater with outfits that clearly speak to me of summer celebrations, and include elements of classic style, but are unique and modern.

What a perfect combination a straw hat and denim are, and I love the juxtaposition of masculine and feminine pieces. (Juxtaposition is one of my favourite things, and words.)

Annika, who shares outfit posts, DIYs and science facts at The Pineneedle Collective, has worn her boater hat with a wide variety of looks. They are all cheerful, cute and feminine.

I've selected some of her more vintage-style looks to share, but it was really hard to choose my favourites!

I seem to have gravitated towards the paler colours and florals here.

Valentine, who blogs at Hello It's Valentine, brings us some more florals, but also navy and stripes.

This bike! I've never seen anything like it. I'm a bit obsessed with outfit photos featuring bikes, possibly because I can barely ride one, and idealise the life that bike-riders have.

I think this photo below is still my favourite of all the boater outfits I've found! Just perfect.

So we've got boaters with skirts, dresses, pants, and shorts; with bold primary colours, classic neutrals and soft pale shades; and all the touches of riverboats and picnics that my heart desires! And they show to perfection how well a boater can be worn at all angles - flat on top of the head, angled to the side, to the front, or on the back of the head.

Want more? Check out the rest of the images on my Pinterest board for How to Wear a Boater/Sailor Hat, and the rest of the great outfits posts from Lavender and Twill, My Small Wardrobe, The Pineneedle Collective, and Hello It's Valentine.

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I'd love to know what styles of hat you would enjoy a "how to wear" post about, so please tell me in the comments!