Five Completes A Set

As I mentioned on my last post that the number four meant bad luck in Japanese and Chinese cultures, I decided to close my “Blue” Collection with a fifth piece. In a lovely peacock blue, Madeline pays homage to the cocktail parties of yesteryears. This bandeaux is slightly wider than my previous piece, and meets the four-inch head wear requirement for Royal Ascot. I like the wider band personally because it shows off the base fabric, and the polka dots makes the piece more modern than vintage. I used rooster feathers in various shades of blue and black, and a sequin fabric ribbon for added texture. I have a shelf full of sequin pieces that I am dying to use, but all that bling isn’t for everyone. In the case of Madeline, a little goes a long way.

I have often complained about the amount of engineering it takes to make wired mounts, but the lining can be equally challenging. I have never been able to really make all my hat linings consistent in color or style. I find that when I get to the end, I want to match the lining to the personality of the hat. I use silk when I can, or a very light cotton, and ultimately a synthetic lining if I cannot find anything else that works. No one is going to see the beauty underneath the hat except the woman wearing it. Think of it as a hidden treasure that only the wearer can appreciate like lingerie.

When I think I have found a method I can replicate across all hats, I am challenged with a glitch to find a new way to line. I admit that hair crowns are the most difficult, not only to make, but to line. With the time involved to make a crown, I doubt I will be using anything less than the best materials available. When you compare hat quality, it is the small details, including the hand sewing that differentiates a low-cost fascinator to a couture one. I never understood this until I started making hats. All the hand sewing has really tested my patience, but worth the effort.