How To Wear a Snood - Fashion Inspiration

It's easy to admire a vintage accessory or clothing style, but sometimes harder to imagine how to actually find a place for it in your wardrobe. One of the lovely things about the online vintage community, is getting to see how other people are dressing, and get ideas for the pieces you want to wear yourself. And although vintage images are great, highly-styled magazine images and fashion sketches dominate over photos of everyday people, and seeing clothing worn by a real person is a lot more helpful.

In the first Snoodtember post, I shared some links to advice on how to wear a snood and how to style your hair with them. Today we're going further with our inspiration, to look at whole outfits styled beautifully with a snood. I've tried to include a picture of the whole outfit, and often a close up or two so that you can see the hair details too.

There are outfits for any season, from a range of colour palettes, so that whatever hemisphere you are in, you can find something to work for you right now.

Many thanks to the lovely bloggers who agreed to let me share their images in this post. I've shared their blog links in the text so that you can check them out, and each individual photo is linked to the blog post for that particular outfit.

I'd like to start with Christine, from the blog Chronically Overdressed, otherwise known as The Glambassador. Christine is a frequent snood wearer, and always styles them beautifully with her outfits and with perfect hair! I also really love this dress silhouette with the snood.

I love the way the red in the snood and her brooch (and lipstick) add bright spots to the otherwise darker outfit.

Here is the same flower, but with a different snood and different outfit. Now it's the white of the flower that matches the necklace and the details of the dress, while the blue of the snood coordinates with the dress. It's worth checking out the other photos from the post to see this look with a coat too.

Vintage fashion blogs do tend to show a lot more dresses than pants, and when it comes to snoods that seems to be even more the case than usual! This play suit that Christine is wearing here is a lovely compromise, I feel.

Look at those rolls! I desperately need to work on my hair skills.

This next one is a lovely bright summer outfit, but my favourite thing about it is seeing one of those half-snoods in action.

How cute is it? This style works beautifully with the cute rolls in front, and you can see why snoods were such a big thing for women with long hair, getting it off your neck and out of the wind, while looking as chic as can be.

Next up is Bianca, from the blog The Closet Historian. I knew I had to include Bianca in this post, and one of the reasons is that she has worn snoods in such a variety of ways, and with outfits inspired by more than just 1940s looks.

Let's start with mid-century vintage looks and go from there. The snood is subtle here, matching Bianca's hair colour closely, but it provides an added extra to the look (and I can imagine it might have been windy up on that mountain, so practical too!).

I love all the colours that are going on here, tied together in a sleek, uber-cool silhouette

This snood is also subtle, especially in a look that is already in black-and-white, but the fact that it is worn with a hat makes it so extra special! As you know, I've made "with a hat" one of the Snoodtember weekly themes, so I was excited to find a good example to inspire you all!

Snoods with hats are such a common look in the fashion magazines in the 1940s, but one that is rarely being worn these days by vintage fans. Bianca shows it is not only possible, but downright stunning!

I remember when Bianca first shared her sketches for a series of outfits planned with a renaissance inspiration brought into a more modern outfit, and the results were fantastic. Snoods these days are most often worn with a 1940s-inspired look, they were around a long time before then, and I encourage you to explore those other eras for ideas.

You don't have to design and make your own historically-inspired dresses as Bianca has done, (although, by all means do, because I'd love to drool over some more) but some details could be introduced in smaller ways. I love the look of the snood itself too, with the band at the front giving a nice detail.

This outfit, another of Bianca's renaissance-inspired looks, is also not out of the question for those looking to express their love for gothic hints or Halloween vibes. The snood is barely noticeable from the front, but makes a lovely detail in the all-black ensemble. This, and all Bianca's looks, also show that you don't have to do victory rolls or have a fringe to wear a snood.

Next we have Jessica, of Chronically Vintage. Jessica is a big snood fan, and I delved right back into her blog archives to find my favourite outfits to share with you.

I love this pink and green combination, with just the kind of "It's spring but I still need a cardigan" feel to suit the weather in my part of the world right now!

And this one, despite the more Autumnal tones, had me immediately contemplating where I could get a pinafore dress. Even though Jessica's hair isn't that dark, the black snood is still on the subtle end of the spectrum and pairs nicely with the crisp clean lines of the outfit.

And they kindly took a photo from the back. Take note, fashion bloggers, more of this please, especially when hats and other headwear are involved!

I love the sweet oatmeal colour of this snood with the soft charming colours in the dress. This seems like the kind of outfit that once you had it, you could just throw it on: dress, snood, bangles, done. I'm not sure this level elegance is really that effortless, but I like to imagine it is.

Just as I was announcing Snoodtember, I saw this outfit post on Jessica's blog, and I knew I would be including it. Such a lovely combination of colours, and showing that the simple snood with a bow can be the perfect way to top off a vintage look.

And last by not least, we have Brittany of Va-Voom Vintage, who is another long-time fan of snoods, and also a maker and seller of them (if you follow me on Instagram you'll soon be hearing some news from us!).

I love these stunning greens on Brittany, and if you go through to her post she has a link to a video tutorial for the hairstyle too. I particularly love that she is wearing, as far as I can tell, a regular snood low down as a half-snood? I was wondering about trying this, and now I feel confident to give it a go!

A classic Autumn look with plaid, dark blue, and a spot of red in the snood is hard not to love. Red snoods are so versatile and classic - I think I need to get one!

Jeans at last! I adore this look. Fancy fair and a snood, with a more casual outfit that is still full of vintage vibes, from the turned-up jean cuffs to the plaid jacket.

Once again, thank you to these lovely ladies who allowed me to share their images to inspire us all today and in our Snoodtember journey.

If you are feeling inspired but are short on snoods, don't forget that there are links to crochet patterns in the resource post and the special guest post reviewing free vintage Australian patterns. Or if sewing is more your thing, the fabric snood-along is starting later this week. (Or you can buy one from Brittany's Etsy shop, Tinsel Town Accessories.) Stay tuned!

How to Wear a Pillbox Hat

Pillbox hats are a bit of an enigma, I reckon. They have gone through phases of being an insanely popular style, and they are relatively easy to make, which makes them an extremely easy-to-find vintage hat style. Today pillboxes are readily available in a multitude of colours and sizes, with all sorts of trims, in genuine vintage and in modern reproductions.

But, apparently, not many people wear them. When I published my first "how to wear" post, and asked what other styles should be featured, it was pillbox hats that were most requested. And when I went looking, it wasn't exactly easy to find great outfit photos featuring pillboxes. But I persisted, and in the end I've turned up gold! If you aren't inspired by these ladies to dust off your own pillbox, I'll eat mine.

(Each photo links to the full outfit post by the individual blogger, if you want to see more images of the outfits.)

When a pillbox shape first started to appear in the mainstream millinery fashion radar in the the 1930s, they were small, and worn tilted, but pillbox hats of any size can be worn angled and look fabulous.

Wearing your pillbox on the side gives a great opportunity for your hair to shine on the hatless side, with curls or victory rolls for example, or a swept-to-the-side fringe. I particularly love a tilted pillbox with a party frock.

Kristina, of Twee Valley High, is an absolute star of this look. Angled pillbox, full skirted silhouette, beyond-cute accessories. Summer or winter, she rocks a pillbox, and loves them so much she wrote an article about it

On the back of the head is the "quietest" way to wear a pillbox hat. This is the way that Jackie O, Audrey Hepburn, and more recently Kate Middleton chose, and it oozes class, and can also remain really subtle, if you are tentative about your first pillbox outing.

This option works perfectly with winter outfits, and also really suits a suit or a simple elegant dress. It is great for a lot of hairstyles, as long as you make sure your hair isn't going to get in the way at the back. It can show off a fringe or curls at the front beautifully.

Sara, of Ladylike Delicacy, lives up to her blog's name with these very ladylike outfits, featuring classic vintage separates, with a straight, structured silhouette and fabulous jackets, in flattering neural colours.

Kate mixes her pillbox with modern elements, shorter skirts/dresses and opaque tights and statement tops and jackets. (Kate's blog Schwurlie is not recently updated, but she has some great tutorials that are worth checking out, and her own excellent post on how she wears a range of hat styles) These outfits of Kate's really show how a black pillbox is not any scarier than a black beret, and is so versatile and wearable.

Wearing a pillbox straight is a very classic and true-to-vintage way, and for me it is an in-between option in terms of bravery. There's no hiding it away at the back, but it's a more modern-seeming and casual-suitable way. Of course, it's going to flatten your hair a bit, so you may want to keep that in mind. It will work really well with shorter hair, a bob, or plaits. Again, I love this with winter outfits and vintage-fusion looks with jeans.

Judith, of Style Crone, is a hat lover and great promoter of hat wearing through her Hat Attack link ups, and she can wear any hat, including pillboxes, with superb style. She also wears them with jeans, and I don't know about you, but any inspiration for stylish dressing that still involves jeans is good news to me.

The star of my title image is Amanda, of Styleynn, who I love extra for being a vegan style blogger. Her pillbox looks I'm sharing here are both amazing studies in all-black dressing, but show how she wears her pillbox to the side or to the back with equal ease and elegance. Heavenly.

If you are nervous about going out in a pillbox, or think "I'm not a hat wearer, I can't do this," then start easy! Don't stress yourself out. Stick to neutrals colours and wear your pillbox in the winter, when at least a lot of people are wearing hats (even if they aren't as classy as yours).

I really hope this provides you with style inspiration and I'd love to see your pillbox outfits if you take the leap. Leave a link in the comments below or tag me (@tanithrowan) on instagram or twitter.

I think it's time for my good old Jackie O hat to make another appearance in my wardrobe this winter.

This series will be continuing with more inspiration for more hat styles, and the fortnightly newsletter has regular hat-wearing inspiration. Go on...sign up!

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!