If you have been following my recent series about hats, you will have seen the ‘also rans’ and the satellite post I did. If you missed them, you can catch up here and here.
Now I am going to share with you my bestest hats, the ones I wear a lot for various reasons.
My first hat is my absolute favourite.
I purchased this from Black Sheep Antiques on my very first weekend at Twinwood. I was waiting for my turn at the hairdressers and popped out to look at the closest stalls. I spotted this stunner and purchased it without a single thought. I think it was the only item I purchased all weekend.
Cream Velvet Platter
Since then it has been worn so much. Since it was the perfect cream platter hat, it went with everything!
My absolute favourite Platter
Sadly for me, it got soaked at Twinwood 2018 and has never been the same again. I know that I could probably get something done about it, but I don’t know the first place to start looking.
Battered and Broken!
The rigidity has been compromised and the velvet has become rough. I genuinely don’t think it is wearable in the state it is currently in, which is a real shame.
Moving on I have one of my favourite summer straw hats. This also has a bit of a tale behind it!
I saw this hat online in the USA. It was being sold by a lovely lady called Tammy who I have purchased a few things from, including glasses and ties. This one really took my fancy and I was lucky enough to win her auction.
Knowing it would be a three or four weeks before it arrived, I settled down to wait.
Original labels on the sweat band
And I waited and waited. Several weeks passed and it just never arrived!
Tammy gave me a full refund on the hat. I was gutted, but it couldn’t be helped.
Well…. the labels look quite old?!?
You can imagine my surprise when a box turned up about four months later and this beauty was inside it.
Such an unusual weave
Again it is another hat that you can wear flat, tilted or on the back of the crown.
Worn as a Halo
It has the prettiest little soft velvet fruit embellishments that are on wires so can be moved or curved about as I desire.
Soft Velvet fruits
Perfect really!
My next choice is this stunning blue velvet platter. It is in perfect condition and the inside is as pretty as the outside.
Gorgeous Lining
I also love the fact that it has a shaped brim which is quite unusual.
The prettiest shaping
I usually wear this with a dress with multiple blue shades and it really isn’t the perfect match, however I don’t currently have something that would be better.
Just a great style and shape
This next one is absolutely adorable. However the outfit I ordered to go with it was hideous! A mint dress with lilac trim looked lovely online, but when it arrived it was mahoosive AND a really naff nylon.
Proper old fashioned
It looked like I was wearing a tent and there was nothing anyone could do to make it look any better.
Too Cute
The dress went back and I haven’t found anything that would work with it yet. I am still looking though as I adore this hat, even though it makes me think of Little Bo Peep for some reason!
Yes…. those are grey hairs
Again it can be worn two ways, although the first is my favourite.
This next one is not so much a hat as a feathered cocktail band which expands as you stretch it out over your head. It can be worn in two ways again and I love both.
Such beautiful Plumage
It has a label in stating Made in Formosa which is now Taiwan.
Days gone past
Need to wear this out soon
If I had to guess, I would say maybe the very late 50’s into the early 60’s but I really am not sure. I love it though and it is a real pleasure to wear it.
Feathered Fancy
This next hat is something I picked up online that I adore. A brown felt high hat with feathers as an embellishment. It has a lovely zigzag section that sits tight to the head and you can wear it several ways so that the embellishment it either at the front or sides.
Miss Marple or Mrs Bouquet?
I love wearing this with the zigzag on my forehead.
Pheasant or Partridge?
I also feel very Miss Marple in this one for some reason. I just need to find a tweed suit to match up to it!
What a Stately Hat
The last one that I am going to show on here is a grand old lady who is in need of some TLC. A ruby red straw tilt hat with black and red stiffened grosgrain material decoration.
A Top Titfer
The hat has a small veil attached which is literally in pieces.Every time I touch the veil, another bit falls off in my hands.
A bit distressed!
The whole thing is a little grubby, needs a new hat elastic attaching as this one has perished but I have the perfect outfit to wear with it.
Apparently from the late 1930s to mid 1940s?!
I just need to do a little repairing, cleaning and removing the damaged parts from the hat.
I actually have the perfect outfit to wear with this….
Although to be honest, I am a bit worried that I could mess it all up!
Dirty and Dusty but a great shape!
At the moment it takes pride of place on a shelf, and may well do so for many years to come…..
So, what do you think to some of my collection? Are there any you covet?
Till next time,
SPSG