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Kerry Winter • Aug 21, 2020
Should you have a Hat made or buy an 'off the shelf' Hat?
What is the difference between Handmade and Factory Made?
Hand Crafted Headpiece by Love Hats Millinery
When you buy a Headpiece from the High Street, you a buying a mass produced piece that is mainly glued together.
Going to a Milliner for a Bespoke Headpiece, you are paying for a Headpiece that is made specifically for your outfit and personality. It will be hand blocked and everything will be hand stitched, meaning hours and hours of work go into it. It will be like a piece of art that you wear on your head!
'Off the Shelf' or Bespoke?
For 'Off the Shelf' Headpieces
- You can try the hat on and you know what you are getting
- The Hat will be available immediately so if you have left it till last minute, this is ideal
Against 'Off the Shelf' Headpieces
- Mass produced means lots of the same design are sold so you may see other people in the same headpiece
- May not be able to get the exact colour or design that you want
Fors 'Bespoke' Headpieces:
- Headpiece will match your outfit perfectly
- The Design can be something unique that no one else will have
- You can be involved in the Design process so that you get exactly what you want
- Being hand stitched means the Headpiece will last a very long time if stored correctly
Against 'Bespoke' Headpieces
- The Headpiece can take some time to complete
- More expensive than 'off the shelf'
Deciding Which Milliner to choose:
Do a little bit of research on the internet and find milliners that have Headpieces that you like. It can be easier to use a milliner that is local to you as you can have face to face appointments, but equally appointments can be done by facetime and swatches of materials can be posted; it just means you need to plan ahead and make sure you have enough time especially at busy times.
Connect with milliners on social media and start to build a relationship so that you can be certain that they are the type of person that you can work with.
Ask for recommendations from your friends or look at reviews.
I hope that you found this Blog useful, if you would like help with your next Bespoke Headpiece then drop me a message or follow on Social Media
kerry@lovehatsmillinery.co.uk
www.lovehatsmillinery.co.uk
My Millinery Journey
There's so much to think about when you are attending an Occasion such as Weddings and the Races:The OutfitShoesHandbagJewelryAnd as far as we're concerned, the most important : The Hat!!So once you're sorted with all the above, it's time to start thinking about hair!! The Hairstyle can be the difference between a Hat looking stunning or not....We've had many years experience working in a Hat Shop and serving many many ladies (which we loved) so it's all part of the process!Our absolute favourite Hairsyle is tied back away from the face, which pretty much suits all Hats, Fascinators etc... So1 A Low BunIf you have long hair, an elegant low bun is ideal to wear with any Headpiece, but especially flattering on smaller pieces such as Fascinators, Button Pillbox Hats and small Discs.2. Half Up - Half DownFor all the girlies who like to show off their beautiful locks, the Half up Half down hair style is the perfect style to wear with smaller Headpieces.3. Low PonytailThe low ponytail is a funky way to get your hair out of the way but still showing off your long hair.4. Vintage Pin CurlsWe are obsessed with anything vintage fashion and pin curls are just so stylish and absolutely stunning!And such a lovely way to style your long hair with a vintage inspired outfit.5. Pixie CutWeddings and Races are a brilliant time to get dressed up (we don't get much chance to do this now right??)So, have fun, have a practice session with your hairstyle and make-up beforehand so that on the day there are no hiccups and you can walk out looking and feeling fantastic.If you would like a special Headpiece creating, please get in touch!!www.lovehatsmillinery.co.ukkerry@lovehatsmillinery.co.uk07583598965
Silver Rosalind crystal-embellished metallic leather sandals | Sophia Webster | NET-A-PORTER (net-a-porter.com)
Well with many Weddings cancelled in 2020, we are all looking forward to getting some normality back in 2021 and hoping that Weddings will be back in full swing....
I for one have been working very hard behind the Scenes, creating an e-commerce site to make buying easier for the client; but also designing and making my Bridal Headpiece Range for 2021 (something I've wanted to do for ages but never had the time to get organised so covid19 has certainly allowed me this!)
Whilst researching Bridal Trends for 2021 to make sure my Heapieces compliment them, I thought I would put together what I found for all you gorgeous Brides out there......
I absolutely love millinery and everthing hats, so I thought I would do some research on the internet and find out a little bit more about the History of Millinery......... I've always been drawn to vintage fashion and loved rumaging in second hand shops in my youth (when it wasn't fashionable to do so!!) And in those days I got some amazing vintage pieces...... How I wish I'd kept them... So heres a brief look at millinery in different eras!!
Tips to help the Mother of the Bride choose her outfit
Princess Diana was no doubt our greatest fashion icon and I miss seeing what she is wearing next....Here are my top 5 outfits and hats worn by the Princess, everyone would be high fashion today...1. TurbanMy number 1 favourite Headpiece, what's not to love about this Sapphire and White Headpiece. A fabulous turban style headpiece with a wide brim. This piece was created by Dillon Wallwork2. Jackie O PillboxThis stylish outfit and hat was no doubt inspired by Jackie O. A beautiful shade of pink and a fabulous look. 3. The BoaterThe Boater has been very fashionable for a few years now and has always been one of my personal favourites. 4. Button Pillbox with VeilingVeiling is still very much an asked for addition, fabulous with any pillbox. It gives a beautiful vintage look, And I'm obsessed with anything Vintage.5. Dior Style HeadpieceThis Gorgeous Dior style hat is just divine. I love anything Dior, Christian Dior created the most divine Outfits and Hats, each with stunning silhouettes. And while I am obsessing about Christian Dior, the new book is an absolute must read for anything who is into fashion and hats.So those are my personal favourite top 5 of Princess Diana's Hats. But she was also so much more than what she was wearing, (I watched a programme about her life on Netflix recently and sat bawling.)She was a lady who bought into an idea of how life was going to be and it didn't turn out that way, but she stood up to the challenge and made the best of her situation and tried to use her power to the good of others. A Lady who will be missed forever.....If you would like a Headpiece creating please get in touch....kerry@lovehatsmillinery.co.ukwww.lovehatsmillinery.co.uk
Guide to making a Free From Shape using your hand made block or polystyrene head..What you will need:Handmade block or Polystyrene HeadSpray bottle of water/ Kettle/ IronCotton clothPlastic to cover the blockSinamay of your choiceDressmaking Pins/NeedlesStiffener and brushMillinery wireCotton to match sinamay colourWhen you are ready to begin:Start by covering your block with plasticBlock your chosen sinamay with the bias running from the top to the bottom (I spray the sinamay with water first, and then use a damp cloth and hot iron to block the sinamay)then stiffenWhen the sinamay is dry, draw your shape on to it , take off the block and cutSteam the shape lightly and flip the top over so that it curves the other wayWire the edge with millinery wire using a blanket stitchEdge with sinamay, either with the same colour or contrasting colourYour free form shape is now ready!For this Headpiece, I blocked a button pillbox which I then attached the free form shape to and then added the trim (two hand trimmed ostrich feathers with three roses at the back)I then added a hat elastic, hat lining & petersham....I hope you found this useful, please subscribe for more tips or follow me on social media.https://www.facebook.com/lovehatsmillinery/https://www.instagram.com/lovehats64/kerry@lovehatsmillinery.co.ukwww.lovehatsmillinery.co.uk
