What a Great Hat and The Sassy Sunflower are joining forces to get the community together! VIP early access Friday, June 28th from 6pm to 8pm!! Open to everyone Saturday, June 26th and Sunday, June 27th from 11am to 3pm. Check out the new Sassy Sunflower location and shop. 1463 S Cleveland Massilon Rd, Copley, OH 44321. Join us for an exclusive sale, try on the hats, and support small businesses!
Cancer hits close to the heart for nearly all of us. This custom hat was designed for a customer going through chemotherapy and embodies her strength, courage and confidence. It is humbling to create something that holds such value to someone. My thoughts and prayers go out to anyone fighting cancer, has a loved one fighting cancer, or has lost someone to cancer. This is the perfect example that a hat is so much more than just a hat.
Who doesn’t love the iconic hats worn by Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady? These one of a kind hats were created by What a Great Hat for the “Eliza Goes to Ascot” challenge to celebrate Royal Ascot. Both hats are classy and sophisticated, yet make a statement. The eyes are drawn to the drama in the details. Channel your inner Audrey Hepburn! Bring out your playful side by styling these pieces in your own way.
Both hats have beautiful and unique focal points. As Audrey Hepburn said, “Life is a party, dress like it.” These tasteful hats can make any outfit look elegant. A very fun and tasteful challenge to participate in through the milliners guild. Now, on to the next….
I have been looking around for a classic Dior brim but haven’t had any luck finding just what I was looking for. I researched purchasing one, but it just isn’t in the budget right now. In fact, the budget is pretty much non-existent since so many of the art shows have been cancelled.
During the lock down, I visited Hat Academy, an outfit that provides online classes, and purchased a class on how to make a hat block. It is taught by UK milliner, Ian Bennett.
It took some calculating (not my strong point!) and help from my intern, but we figured out the placement of the spokes on the wire frame. Next came covering it in paper and a boatload of masking tape.
The next step was to cover it inside and out with packing tape, which helps to waterproof the paper and add another layer of strength.
All that was left to do was take it for a test drive. Here’s the finished hat!
All in all, a great project. I was happy to have another set of hands, however. It took the two of us a total of about 15 hours just to make the block. But the materials were a tiny fraction of the cost of a wooden block. I’m not sure how many hats I will be able to make on my handmade block; it won’t last forever like a wooden block. But in the meantime, I’m happy to have a new tool that didn’t cost an arm and a leg!
Today’s vintage hat is an interesting one. It looks to be hand sculpted, cut and draped, which is not the easiest task when working with straw as it easily unravels. And speaking of straw, I would LOVE to get my hands on this quality of straw but have not seen anything like it from suppliers during my 15 years in the business. It is very finely woven and knotted. Such a wonderful texture! This one also has a swish of velvet banding from the front over the side and to the top. I’ve often seen velvet used on vintage summer pieces and guess it was just a trend, as I associate velvet with winter.
The designer label says LORIE 57th Street New York.
Edgar J. Lorie designed high fashion hats for more than 40 years. He died in 1976 at 92 years old and lived at 975 Park Avenue.
Hats designed by Mr. Lorie and produced by his concern, Edgar J. Lode inc. were sold in leading boutiques and department stores around the country.
A native of Kansas City, Mo., Mr. Lode quit high school and came to New York, where he learned his craft at various millinery establishments. His wife was a former fashion model who also designed hats for his company and died in 1975.
I looked up the address of his home on Park Avenue and a unit that looks straight out of a Marvelous Mrs. Maisel episode recently sold for $5.3 million! I guess I should have been born earlier, lol. Or maybe he saved lots of money walking to work! Guessing this hat to be 1950s/early 1960s. Not one that I will wear but I much admire the construction and design.
Happy Friday! Here’s another vintage cocktail hat for your Friday viewing. It’s a pretty little black velvet hat with hand beading and rhinestone accents. A dramatic face veil adds drama and sophistication.
No designer label but it has the “O’Neils Akron” label from one of our historic downtown department stores. The other store across the street from O’Neils was called Polsky’s. I wonder why…I see very few hats with the Polsky’s label but many from O’Neils. Hmm…
Stay safe, everyone and hope to see you here again next Friday.
Today’s vintage hat is an elegant little cocktail hat in black velvet with pearls, rhinestones and small metal studs. It has a stiff velvet bow and the front and netting for extra glamour.
Happy Easter, friends! Although we’re still isolating, I hope you celebrate in a way that is meaningful to you. See you next Friday!
Some of the hats of the 1960s just make me smile and this is one of them. What a celebration of color and style. Maybe it’s because spring is just starting to unfold but this hat reminds me of daffodils and soft green willow branches.
This hat was designed my Mr. John, a designer that is much loved by many of my vintage hat sisters. Mr. John came to the US from Germany in 1919 and eventually formed a partnership with Frederick Hirst in 1929 under the brand John-Frederics. He started his own millinery company, Mr. John, Inc., in New York in 1948.
I can’t speak for you, but I find myself wanting to channel my inner Pharrell Williams…the crown on this linen sun hat is so tall! I especially love the double grosgrain ribbon bows in front. As you can see, the hat sits high on the forehead. I guess this was just the style but the modern milliner in me want to pull it down farther on the forehead.
Mr. John created the iconic hats for Vivien Leigh in Gone with the Wind. He died in 1993 at the age of 91. He was a prolific milliner and his hats are beloved by many. Maybe you have some of his hats in your collection. Until next week, have a lovely weekend!
It’s Friday again but honestly the days are all running together since our world has been turned upside down with COVID-19. Wishing all of you well and please stay healthy.
I thought this orange number might bring a bit of sunshine to your day! It’s a classic 1950s style in orange felt with a dramatic sweep of two dyed pheasant feathers caped in a pearl and rhinestone holder. The tag inside says “Model by Lisette” The A. Polsky Co., Akron, Ohio.
The hat is constructed with an inner cap and then topped with the brim that is sewn on by hand. And then of course the wonderful feathers were added as the crowning glory.
Such a fun hat that has just the right amount of drama to amp up an otherwise conservative topper. Enjoy the weekend!
Berets are one of those styles that endure. This beret is made with strips of satin that end in a swirl at the top of the hat. The hat does not have a designer label but has a store label from Polsky’s, one of two major department stores downtown Akron that closed many years ago. Although this hat has seen better days – it has been well worn and loved – it’s charm shines through. Classic and still a beauty!
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