Vintage, ain't all it's cracked up to be...

If you have been following my blog then you should know by now that I collect and make hats. I thought I would take this opportunity to share with you a few photo's I took for the lovey ladies at 'We love Perth', as guest blogger of the month of April. As you can probably gather I love dressing up!

After attending Fashion Talks this month my love of all things vintage has been reignited. I have also been slowly putting together another collection of headpieces, after suffering quite badly of designers block. So if all things go well, you will be seeing some more original creations for my millinery and headpiece label Banks & Bell.

Right now I am gearing up for the Perth Fashion Festival. I can't wait to find out what William St will have to offer this year...

Vintage Hat Affair

My Precious Lady Hat by Banks & Bell

Loyal readers I'm sorry for the recent neglect. As I predicted a few weeks ago this past month has been very crazy but also rewarding.

It has been very exciting to see my first post go up as a guest blogger, on local website 'We Love Perth'! Featuring photo's of my vintage hat collection.

I would also like to announce that the name of my new Millinery label is Banks & Bell. I'm currently designing a range of head pieces for Fenella Peacock's up coming parade on the 27th of April. Just click for further details.

I am also happy to say that I will be writing in the style section for the new online magazine 'The Star Fish'.

Everything seems to have happened at once, but it keeps me on my toes...

Windswept...

Inspired by Fenella Peacock's latest collection Poetica I created this hat to sell under my label Love Lucy, in her store Nells. 

It took a little while to get this hat to work. I had the colours I wanted to use but inspiration wasn't forthcoming. I wanted volume and I didn't want it to look too perfect. I was aiming to achieve a random simplicity.

Copper wire came to the rescue. I was able to give the volume, random placement and at the same time make the ribbons look like they're floating in the breeze...

Photo Top: Hat; Windswept by Love Lucy, Dress; Rouge Josephine by Fenella Peacock, Necklace; Honey Eater in Copper by Totomoto.

Blow them out and make a wish...

The Hat Affair has turned two! I can't believe it, the time has gone by so quickly. If someone had said to me two years ago that I would have a fashion blog and a millinery label, I would have laughed in their face (In fact I think I did!).

It just goes to show you can't see what is coming around the corner. I hope the next is just as rewarding!

Pictured: The red velvet cup cake is from Little Bakery and is available at Nells, Mosman Park and Kahluas Sisters, Fremantle. As well as other selected cafes and gourmet deli's. The candle is from The Home Provedore Bake Essentials Store, Fremantle. The plate is part of a trio by Royal Albert called Lady Carlyle. The table cloth is Laura Ashley.

Ruby red...

I love this 1950's rich ruby red number. You can just picture the previous owner dressed in her beautiful 'new look' dress, with the nipped in waist and full skirt. Her small gloved hands holding a neat purse. Her red lips posed to take a sip from a delicate glass of champagne.

If only the women of today would show such reverence for there appearance. What happened to the time when a simple thing like not wearing thongs to the office was accepted practice (I'm referring to flip flops, for those who aren't Aust). Call me old fashioned, but aren't you supposed to wear a comfortable yet formal shoe to the office, not what you slob around in on your weekends. At present the casual day that used to be once a week has merged with the other four resulting in mishmash of work attire. Office workers don't know whether they're going to the gym or to the pub for a beer?

When did the straight skirt and shirt disappear? I know it's still out there somewhere. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that ladies need to look frumpy. That is the last thing I want. Nor do I want us to conform to the male ideal of the sexy secretary. All I would like to see is a bit more pride taken in our daily work appearance. You never know, the lift in looking the part might just improve your standard of work too.

Peaky

I seem to collect blue and red hats, this is no exception. This 1950's hat is woven into an almost Tudor style peaked headdress (With a veil down the back you could Anne Boleyn).

Lucky for me I have a vintage dress in this exact shade of blue, although too much vintage and your in danger of looking like your in costume.

Will I or won't I...

As you can probably gather I find it difficult to walk past an unusual hat and I sometimes end up with a purchase where I'm not entirely convinced. This is one such purchase. I was attracted by the colour and how striking it is, however the question of whether I would actually wear it, well that is contentious issue.

It is a 1960's turban hat that was made by 'Mr Individual', Melbourne and consists of netting, fake fur and chiffon.

I'll let you make up your mind...

Eve sparkles...

For New Years Eve I went to a Prohibition Party and for my costume I just had to top it off with a beaded head dress. Unfortunately I didn't have time to bead the entire thing, so I had to make do with a velvet ribbon. However I now have the beading bug and no doubt they will get more elaborate more I make.

What a Year!

I've had a well deserved holiday, however I have not been sitting on my hands. In the last few months I have been to parades, markets, festivals, fairs and kept busy creating new masterpieces to add to my collection. Not to mention those hat boxes I've been meaning to cover. (Which I think have turned out rather well!)

It is truly Summer in the Southern Hemisphere, my first day at the beach was New Years Day, it was wonderful. With my wide brimmed One Teaspoon Hat with scarf I thought I looked very Audrey Hepburn, but probably looked like a melted Ice cream topped with chocolate sauce.

A little bit of nonsense...

"Are you going to put on a hat?" "No, I'm going to wear a little bit of nonsense."

This gorgeous green satin cocktail cap dates from the 1950's and looks amazing.The lady I bought it from said that it was known as 'a little bit of nonsense' and I quite like that quirky description.

Sorry about the lack of posts but going to Sydney and Melbourne coupled with a month house sitting with no internet (which I sorely missed I can tell you) meant posting blogs this month has been rather difficult.

I wore it recently to the Perth Fashion Festival along with my ruby red velvet Carla Zampatti Jacket!

Blue baby...

I know this isn't exactly a hat but you have to admit it's cute! I made this bow using a long strip of navy stretch satin. First I wrapped a headband with black grograin ribbon and then I stitched the bow to it. It makes me think of Alice in Wonderland! When I wear it I always have a smile on my face. Don't you think it's the little things that make all the difference! x

Just a little bit fishy...

Well this is my latest creation which I think resembles fish scales. I have used black felt, silver and black embroidery thread and some vintage diamontie buttons. It sits at the front of the head and looks best with your hair up and back combed. I was inspired by Jean Lavin hats of the 1920's and the feathered hats of the 1950's.

I have many more hats that I haven't had the opportunity to photograph yet, so don't worry there are more on the way! I'm going over to Sydney and Melbourne in August and I hope to do a bit of hat shopping, as well as sourcing suppliers.

It is so hard when your trapped in the most isolated city in the world!(Perth for those who don't know and no I am not exaggerating when I say this.) But as they say isolation breeds creativity, so maybe I have that in my favour? However it does limit what good quality products I can buy immediately.

Maybe one day Perth will move into the 21st Century, but I won't hold my breath. As much as Perth is limiting it is also quite relaxing and carefree. A wonderful place to grow up in and if or when I do leave I intend on coming back! (My aunty has been saying that for 40years, but doesn't look like she will be moving back anytime soon. Maybe she's just keeping her options open!) Love Lucy x

Mary Whitehouse Moment...

This hat belonged to my grandmother and dates from the 1960's, think Mary Whitehouse. As an older lady my grandmother had short curly hair and come to think of it resembled her mother, my great grandmother. So I guess we do end up looking like our mothers, which is a scary thought!

A simple straw!

A straw hat can be a simple solution to an otherwise boring outfit. I bought this hat at the craft and antiques fair and I ended up wearing it that day. Worn at a jaunty angle it looks quite chic, you might also recognise it from this months title graphic!

(Sorry I've cut off the edges my background just wasn't quite wide enough. I need a wider backdrop.)

Mini trend altert!

I mentioned them last month and after watching 'Sex and the City 2' the movie I can see that they're making a come back!

I'm talking about the turban. However this time around it's worn with long flowing locks. Seen in shades of metallic like Kate Moss for evening and if your Carrie Bradshaw also during the day.

My little prediction for Summer is turbans in two tone printed cotton, worn with a little cardigan over a long flowing printed skirt.

The turban pictured above is fashioned from a vintage scarf I picked up for $4 from the 'La La Orange' closing down sale (sob). Perth will miss you!x

For blue is thy name...

It's been so overcast here, it's been hard to take photo's lately so this hasn't turned out the best (the background is actually white). I bought this a little while ago from the Craft and Antiques fair. It is a little bit dusty but otherwise okay. It was probably made in the 1960's, but that is a guess as there is no label to go from.

My sister wore it to the mad hatters tea party along with an Alana Hill knit and ra ra skirt (all borrowed from me of course). I just thought it was really cute, but it was the stitching that clinched the deal. I have a weakness for stitching!

Tea and cake anyone?

What do you have at a Mad Hatters tea party? Vanilla cupcakes with royal icing, lemon tarts with passion fruit syrup, cucumber sandwiches, scones with jam and cream and Earl Grey tea, of course!

A few weeks ago some friends and I gathered to enjoy high tea in celebration of the hat. So enjoy the culinary delights on me! x

The cat that got the cream...mmm!

This delicious cloche was made from an old hat which had seen better days. It was covered in moth holes, but luckily only on the brim. A bit of moulding and trim with two grow grain ribbons et volia, cest fini!

The Genie in the lamp...

Just lately I have become enamoured of turbans. I made this silver turban for a 1920's costume a few years ago. Originating from Asia and the Middle East, they became very fashionable during the 1940's, when the materials to produce hats were scarce.

All you needed was a scarf, wrap it, tie it and twist and you had a hat. I found a film just recently which showed how this was done. You can find it at http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=38179

Because of this film I have been experimenting with the turban look, but my mother thinks it makes me look like a washer woman and at times I am inclined to believe her!

The emerald goddess...

This hat is made for a show stopping entrance, I keep thinking of 'Hello Dolly' for some reason. Hmm, school musical coming back to haunt me?! It just didn't look right on a white background, so I thought I'd brighten it up with this Victorian Wallpaper, designed by William Morris. Alas it is just wrapping paper, I would love to paper my house with the real thing! You might also notice my lovely hat block currently modeling 'the emerald goddess'. It was another gift from Sally and Ian along with this hat! Thank you both so much! x