hats!

While walking through the fashion district I came across a hat store (I believe it was Manny’s Millinery 28 west 38th) That sold hat shapes for  pretty good prices and I bought two out of a discount bin for only $5 each.  They also sold large bags of rhinestones and a beautiful rainbow beaded trim I still dream about.  Here are two hats I bought:

this hat is sooooo tall!

to be technical, this is a headband, but it is still amazing!

For the record, I am wearing a strapless dress. Oh, and both hats were made from plastic materials, so totes vegan.

 

Also, our furry friend, Catt Damon, liked the one hat so much he was fighting me  for it!

a jazz age indulgence

Yesterday was a day of strolling and just enjoying the city.  Well, at least the second part of it.  My morning was a bit stressful when I messed up my subway directions and didn’t make it to the corset place before stopping at the theatre to see We The People: America Rocks, starring the one and only Bastard Keith (well, not billed by that name since it was a family friendly show) as Ben Franklin.

After the theatre, my partner wasn’t feeling too well, but we decided to quick stop at the corset place, since I missed it before the show and was feeling sort of glum.  I bought two items there (to be discussed in a different post) and then on the walk to get a taxi we passed by a hat shop.

Now, hats have become sort of new interest for me.  I think I always enjoyed the look, but never really got into them myself.  With the abundance of 1930’s era films we’ve been watching lately and a lot of jazz-age themed events popping up in NYC, I decided I should invest in a cloche hat so I’d have something to wear to events.  Walking past this hat store, I saw one in the window and decided to go try some on.

my Victor Osborne cloche

Victor Osborne‘s store is a really amazing experience.  Hat blocks (the wooden models that they fit the hats on to shape them) line the store and are placed along the back wall with hats that are finished or are currently being fitted.  Osborne himself was actually steaming one when we walked in.  I tried on a variety but knew I had come in looking for a cloche, and decided to get one.  As a warning, the hats there are a bit pricey for my taste, but the craftsmanship was amazing and he was such a great guy running his own business, it felt good buying from him.

Now, for the vegans in the house, here is another interesting fact for you all.  Victor Osborne makes his hats out of two main mediums – straw (vegan) and felt (not vegan).  I asked about the felt, figuring it would be made from wool, like felted bags I’ve seen people knit.  I was actually surprised to find out most of the felt he uses is composed of rabbit fur.  Vegans, before you squirm, know that he is fine  making any style hat in straw if it is structurally possible. Personally, I was in love with so many of his hats that were already created in straw, I am eagerly awaiting my chance to make my next purchase!

memorial retro/kitsch

pillbox and sloppy joe

OH MY! This post was so full of spelling errors and mistypes I had to go back and edit it! Serves me right for thinking I could make a post so late at night after such a busy weekend!

This past  Friday-Monday I got to return home to PA for Memorial Day weekend.  It was fantastic. I hadn’t been home for awhile, and one of the great things, besides seeing family and friends, was that I tried on all my old prom dresses, which fit, so I can use them for costumes.

While in the Lehigh Valley I decided to stop by the UnderWired Boutique, a small but rocking vintage store I had heard about from various people. I didn’t have time to really investigate all of the goods, but I was super excited to find a large collection of vintage ladies hats.  Now, one of the super bonuses of shopping in a vintage store that is not in New York is the price.  I can safely say I bought three hats for probably what it would cost to get just one in New York.

The UnderWired Boutique is a super great with lots of wonderful finds and personality.  While shopping, I

pink flower hat and PA Dutch potato salad

was able to strike up a conversation with the woman working behind the counter.  Usually the woman behind the desk is Lisa O’Brien, the owner and founder of the store, but this weekend Lisa happened to be at a wedding so her friend Carinne was manning the register.  Carinne and I talked about the clothes, retro style, the Lehigh Valley scene and burlesque.  When I mentioned that I was shopping for burlesque costumes, Carinne was very excited and we talked awhile which ended in me giving her info on several shows, venues and performers to check out.

The store sells a large amount of great vintage finds mixed with new creations, various local designers’ goods and hula hoops from the Happy Hooper company (the ones who taught me how to hoop!).  If you are interested in knowing more about the store, they have a blog, and if you are too far away to visit, you can also  purchase pieces through their etsy page.

sculptured style hat with birdcage veil and strawberry/blueberry pie

Instead of just posting plain pictures of my hat purchases I thought I would do a little themed photo shoot to model them.  Paired with each hat is a typical American barbeque meal (in honor of Memorial Day), all of which I made and all of which were vegan.  I tried to think kitsch and embody my inner stereotypical 50’s housewife for the menu planning.

Pair the addition of three fun new hats with a bunch of new costume prom dresses and I am one happy vegan burlesque performer.  I was also quite proud of my cooking abilities. I mean, check out that red, white and blue strawberry/blueberry pie!  If anyone is interested in the recipes for the food I am proudly showing off, let me known and I can get the recipes for you.

But now it is late and Memorial Day is over.  I hope you all had fantastic ones, and if you aren’t American or don’t do anything on the date, I hope you had a great Monday anyway !