Monday, July 14, 2014

Mysterious Hat of the Blue Bows


I still feel like a relative newbie when it comes to wearing hats and I certainly don't wear them everyday. I don't have the confidence or the style to wear one like Jessica from Chronically Vintage (who has great taste and style for wearing hats), but I'm learning what I like and what works with my hair or how to wear my hair with a hat. I am wearing them more often this summer than ever before and more than just sun hats.

Much of my anxiety in the past about wearing hats has actually been less about worrying what others will think and more having to do with the fact that I didn't know what hat to wear where or how to fix my hair with them. Not to mention, that some of the most fabulous vintage hats call for a stupendous outfit and/or occasion for them and I don't have a lot of fancy clothes or fancy places to wear them. So, sometimes I would buy a hat that I just loved the looks of, but couldn't quite figure out how or where to wear them.
This cute blue bow hat was one of those, not necessarily super fancy, but definitely a hat that I couldn't quite figure out how or what to wear it with. To tell the truth, it was a mystery to me.  Well, whether it worked or not I finally wore it out of the house for the first time the other day and decided to take pictures and post about it.
I feel sure that when I can look outside of my maternity wardrobe I will find more outfits and opportunities to wear this hat and perhaps it will get more outings. I am so glad I gave this hat another chance. It was one of the first vintage hats I ever purchased and I was thrown off by what to do with the veil and the color. Yet, a change in my hair and a different positioning of the hat and veil, and I felt much better about the hat.
Do you ever have a hard time figuring out how to wear certain hats? Do you try wearing your hats different ways?

13 comments:

  1. I love the hat! I used to be too intimidated to wear vintage hats now I wear them a lot. I have a few BIG 40s hats that I absolutely love

    retro rover

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I still feel a little intimidated by wearing hats at times and especially certain types of hats (I'm terrified of pillbox hats, I know it's weird, lol). I am getting more confident with them, but don't wear them daily.
      I LOVE big 40s hats and think the absolute beat hats were from the 30s and 40s.
      Sarah

      Delete
  2. Despite owning lots of vintage hats and spending most of my time *making* hats, I am still on a mission to *wear* them myself more often! It is a big leap of fashion to take, especially knowing you will draw more attention to yourself, but they are just so much fun. You are doing the right thing my experimenting with positioning and hair and what style you feel comfortable with. And I think this is a great hat and the blue suits your hair and face so well. I hope you feel confident enough to wear this one more!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't know why, but wearing hats is so scary for me, too. Sun hats in the summer helps as does warm winter hats, but wearing them any other time or any where else seems so daunting. I have found that the more I wear them, the more comfortable I am in them and the less I care what others think of me. I have also recently found that wearing a little pony tail and doing a roll or two in the front or feaux bangs with a little hat can save many a bad hair day.
      How awesome that you make hats?!? I recently purchased my first vintage hat sewing pattern to make some berets for this fall and winter. Do you have an online shop for your hats? I would live to see them.

      Delete
    2. I am finding that the more I wear them, the more incomplete my outfits feel without one! And they definitely save bad hair days :)

      Berets are a great type of hat to start with, both for sewing and wearing. I made one recently from an old coat and I wear it all the time now! I look forward to seeing what you make.

      I do have an online shop here: http://tanithrowandesigns.storenvy.com/ and you can see more of my past work on my gallery page too: http://tanithrowan.blogspot.com.au/p/gallery.html

      Delete
    3. I visited your shop and can I just say wow? Your creations are gorgeous!
      I'm definitely not going to be able to attempt anything like that, but thought I might be able to handle a beret. I'm really cheap and thought it would be a fun challenge and a way to have that perfect matching color or fabric that I can't ever seem to find in a vintage hat.

      Sarah

      Delete
    4. Thank you very much :) Good luck with the beret!

      Delete
    5. Thanks. Right now I'm almost 38 weeks along in this pregnancy, so most of my sewing is currently baby and/or kids related. However, the beret is definitely one of the first things I want to tackle after the baby is born.
      Sarah

      Delete
  3. Tanith just did an excellent post on hat fashions for the early 50s (I'm sure you've already seen it), and I found the snippets about how to wear them and what hairstyles they went with really helpful! My natural inclination is to set everything right on top of my head, but a lot of those 50s cocktail hats and things like that are meant to sit further back, like you're wearing this one. It's amazing what a difference that little change makes.
    I'm glad you didn't give up on this hat, because it is absolutely adorable. I think you could wear it with just about any blue or white outfit, even if the shade wasn't a match. It looks lovely on you with your hair like that.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I always try them sitting right on top, too, but found a lot of pictures from the time have them on the back. I've been wearing hats a lot with a lower ponytail this summer, too, which seems to work well. I've had this hat sitting around for years, but never thought to wear it further back. I think I'm always afraid that they'll fall off back there, lol. This one has a great sturdy frame that keeps it well in place though and I wore it a lot that day.
      I've always been told blue looks good on me, so thank you, and I am looking for other outfits to wear it with. It'll be easier when I can get out of the limited selection of maternity clothing, lol.

      Delete
  4. the hat is to die for! i would wear it right away.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. I guess I'm still a little skidding when it comes to hats and having confidence wearing them.
      Sarah

      Delete
  5. *Blush* Thank you very much for your super kind words about my hats/how I wear hats, honey. I think this sweet, pale blue bow number is gorgeous!!! I would have been drawn to it in a heartbeat as well. Light blue goes with a surprising number of other colours, from brown to red to camel - even olive/army green!

    It's fantastic that you're gaining confidence on the vintage hat wearing front. You don't always need an "all the bells and whistles" outfit to rock a vintage hat by any means, the hat itself can frequently be the star of the show and at times you want to downplay the rest of your ensemble to keep the emphasis on your stunning chapeau.

    Keep on rocking your beautiful vintage toppers, dear gal. Hats look fabulous on you!

    ♥ Jessica

    ReplyDelete