July 6, 2016

Capping off my 31st year of life with an incredible bespoke purple hat from Tanith Rowan Designs




Outfit details

Bespoke 1930s style purple felt and lace hat inspired by the movie The Women: c/o Tanith Rowan Designs

c. 1930s black plastic tipped hatpin: Unknown, hat for years
Creamy white hued plastic rose stud earrings: Claire's
1950s style Petal Vintage Floral Swing Dress in Blue: c/o Dolly & Dotty
Purple cardigan: Thrifted (Lands' End label)
Peachy-pink plastic beaded stretch bracelets: (I think) Forever 21
Faux pearl stretch bracelets: Real Canadian Superstore
1950s/1960s pink handbag: Unknown (had for years)
1950s style blue floral print fabric headband: c/o Dolly & Dotty
1950s white wrist length gloves: Unknown, possibly a gift (had for years)
Nude seamed nude stockings: eBay
Burgundy faux suede pumps: Payless
Lip colour: MAC Partyline


Photography by Tony Cangiano
 

























































Sunshine, as you may recall from some of my more recent posts (such as this one), has been about as rare as hen's teeth around these parts for the past nearly three months (in fact, we had rain - and on one occasion a fabulous thunderstorm - for six of the first eight days of summer).
 
Thus, when it decided to grace us with its presence on a recent weekend afternoon, we beelined it across the street to the beautiful walking path that runs along the stream and tall hill there, to take some outfit photos in the lush green foliage that all of this recent precipitation has generated.
 
A day this bright and lovely (though not staggeringly warm), called for an ensemble that celebrated the very best elements of the tail end of spring/start of summer. A colour palette of vibrant, feminine hues. A garden's worth of blooms, and a chapeau that would keep the sun - now that it was out - from getting too overzealous and burning one's face.
 
Were I going to a garden party, a tea party, a bridal or baby shower, a Mother's Day fete, an alfresco dinner party, a birthday bash, or perhaps even a wedding, I would wear this outfit in a heartbeat. Alas, none of those were on the agenda, but that was okay, because the return of sunshine was worth toasting every bit as much as any of those special occasions.
 
This ensemble starts, quite literally, with the most enchantingly beautiful of vintage style hats, which is a bespoke piece that my dear friend - and one of the most talented milliners in the whole wide world - Tanith Rowan - recently created for me.
 
Tanith, who many of you may know from her terrific vintage blog, Tanith Rowan Design, as well as two past occasions where I've had the great honour of wearing her stunning creations here on my blog (most recent of which was the fun spot of time that I spent with her beautiful blue and black hued Traveling Hat).
 
For this exciting collaboration, I spoke with Tanith and conveyed to her my love for, and desire to own a similar hat to, one that appeared in a scene from that most breathtaking - from a fashion standpoint at least - of 1930s movies: The Women (see image below).




This movie has been hugely influential to me over the years from a sartorial standpoint and is one of those great classic Hollywood films that I can happily watch over and over again without ever tiring of. One has only to get a few moments in to see why - the fashions and accessories are, to my mind, some of the best sported on the big screen and I've yearned to replicate even just a small piece of the breathtaking late thirties style portrayed in that movie for as long as I can recall.

Tanith instantly understood my vision and we set to work zipping emails back and forth with design and colour ideas. As I've been - and continue to be - very enamoured with all things purple lately, and as I own so few hats in this colour, two shades of this spring and summertime perfect shade were hit upon, as was the design itself.

Working with Tanith is a joy of the highest magnitude. She is sweet, professional, considerate, creative and understanding - she also goes the extra mile and then some for her customers, including, in this instance, have the very lace you see custom made for this hat.

So not only do I have the joy of owning a new one-of-a-kind hat, but also the honour of sporting some beautiful purple bespoke lace on it in the process (a detail that I hugely appreciate Tanith doing).

We wanted to make sure that the bow element, seen on the original hat in The Women, was included here, too. Various ideas were bounced back and forth before Tanith came up with the wonderful concept of a separate piece (of matching purple lace) in the shape of a bow with a loop of elastic on the back, that could instantly be slipped onto the "tails" of the lace on the hat to create a full, fabulous bow beneath one's chin (such a brilliant and innovative solution!).

This chapeau is big, bold and unlike anything else in my millinery wardrobe. It looks the mid-century part exceptionally well (as all of Tanith's vintage inspired pieces do), fits me like a glove, and is so beautiful, I can still scarcely believe that it's me wearing this hat in the photos shared here today. It is not the sort of topper one is apt to slip on any ol' day. But that's not only fine - it's exactly what I wanted in a hat this grand that was inspired by one of the most glamorous movies of all time.

It's important to have incredible looking pieces that we save for festive events, parties and holidays, or for when we want to brighten up our everyday lives with something so amazing looking, it might just stop traffic.

This magnificent late 1930s inspired purple felt and lace hat does that impeccably and is a testament to Tanith's unbelievable talent and ingenuity. I cannot thank her enough for the gift of this enchanting chapeau and know that anytime I need a major dose of purple, I have only to reach for this off-the-charts awesome millinery creation.

The question as to what one partners for a first wearing of such a glorious hat was something that I pondered long and hard. Various ideas swirled through my head, including some of my vintage suits, however, on a day bathed in gentle sunshine and when standing in the midst of nature’s verdant palette, such just seemed too stuffy and out-of-place to me.

Much to my delight, the answer to this question revealed itself to me in the form of one of the beautiful garments from UK vintage inspired clothing seller Dolly & Dotty that I recently selected to showcase here for you guys this summer in my roll as a brand ambassador for this wonderful company.

Called the Petal Vintage Floral Swing Dress in Blue, this elegant frock is the sort of flower print garment that turns my knees to Jell-o and which I can never, ever get enough of.

In particular, I was drawn to this gorgeous 1950s style dress because of the blue background - which isn't overly common on vintage reproduction/style garments - and the incredibly attractive rose pattern that it boasts from top to bottom.

Made from a very comfortable cotton and elastin blend, this light weight (fully lined) dress is the perfect thickness of fabric for the sunny months. It sizzles with a classic v-neck, a matching fabric covered belt, a hidden zipper, a full skirt (which one could most definitely place a crinoline underneath of), and a very becoming silhouette.

I would note that, like some of the other pieces that I have very kindly received from Dolly & Dotty, this dress runs on the smaller side (and one may wish to size up, especially if you're between two different sizes).

Here I'm wearing a UK size 10 (my usual size for British garments), which is roughly equivalent to a modern US/Canadian size 6 and I would say it fits closer to a UK size 8/US size 4. However, the use of stretch in the fabric helps a great deal there and I had absolutely no problem comfortably wearing this beguilingly sweet floral print dress for many hours on the day we took these photos.

With a hat and dress this vivacious unto themselves, little was needed in terms of further embellishments here with this outfit.

Some classic jewelry, an equally timeless pair of vintage gloves, a charming purple cardigan, my much adored peachy-pink hued mid-century handbag, a matching 1950s style blue floral print fabric headband from Dolly and Dotty (tied around the handles of my purse),and some burgundy pumps round off the outfit and help the frock and topper to shine all the more in their radiant splendor.

It's hard to believe that this is the last outfit post that I'll share with you during my 31st year of life. My birthday rounds the bend again in just four days time and with it a whole new year of exciting vintage outfits lie ahead.

If one wanted to round off a year of their life with a serious bang from a fashion perspective, this outfit most definitely delivers big time on that front - and you know, it strikes me now, maybe that makes the day we took these photos quite a celebration unto itself after all.

Fitting, wouldn't you say, for one's birthday week and the return - I truly hope - of, at long last, some proper summertime weather, which should help make taking upcoming outfit shoots, once I've turned thirty-two, all the more enjoyable!















109 comments:

  1. Oh Jessica, I don't know what to say other than you look utterly beautiful and your hat is incredible! I am simply in awe xxx

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    1. That says so very much unto itself, dear Melanie. Thank you sweetly for the awesome compliments.

      Many hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  2. I like very much your dress. And you are so pretty. :)

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    1. What an immensely lovely thing to be told, honey. Thank you so much!

      Have a fabulous weekend!
      ♥ Jessica

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  3. You look absolutely STUNNING! The hat, the dress, the accessories, A-MAZING. <3 Happy Birthday dear!!!

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    1. Thank you very much, my sweet friend. Hard to believe it's almost time to blow out the candles on another year again. Lol, that is if I can finally settle on what I want my b-day dessert to be. Pineapple Upside down is the top contender at the moment, but I'm still on the fence between that and about eight other things. :)

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  4. That hat is stunning! And such a Jessica Hat! I think you did a wonderful job putting it all together as well. Enjoy all the fun you will now have in your hat.

    Liz :)

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    1. I love that you see this as a "Jessica Hat", that really speaks to Tanith's ability to see and materialize a customer's vision impeccably.

      Thank you very much, my darling friend. It will definitely be my go-to warm weather hat whenever I want a showstopping accessory.

      Sending oodles of hugs your way,
      ♥ Jessica

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    2. Thank you Liz! I'm glad you think of it as Jessica hat too!

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  5. Wow, this hat is a thing of beauty and you look so beautiful in it, Jessica. I am in awe of the talent that goes into making something like this. What a gorgeous outfit to welcome your next year in - and hopefully there are many more such lovely looks to come for the big 3-2 :D xx

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    1. Aww, thank you very much across the board, sweet CiCi. Same here! It takes such an incredible amount of talent to create a hat like this. I have the deepest respect for Tanith, her skills, and the fact that she's helping to keep the age old millinery art alive in the 21st century.

      Many hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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    2. Thanks Cici! A lot of the talent in this case was from the lace maker, not me, but I was glad to be able to bring it all together :)

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  6. Purple is not my favorite color but that hat is fabulous! I think this is my favorite outfit to date that you have posted. Absolutely stunning! Happy birthday!

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    1. What an awesome thing to hear, sweet Ladye. Thank you very much! I'm quite a fan of it myself. From the hat to the romantic floral print, this outfit captures my immense girly side to a tee.

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  7. Absolutely love this color Jessica! The hat looks great with your hair, too. Thanks for sharing

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    1. Thank you very much, Janet. I don't own a lot of purple hats, but if ever there was a convincing case for me to add (even) more to my wardrobe, this stunning chapeau that Tanith made is definitely it (and certainly goes a long way towards growing my collection of such).

      Wishing you a beautiful July!
      ♥ Jessica

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  8. OMG, this hat is so amazing! Both beautiful and evocative of an earlier time. Its vintage feel is strong and undeniable. One of the best outfits I've seen in a long time.

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    1. That is a seriously lovely compliment, Ally. Thank you so much!

      Wishing you an awesome weekend!
      ♥ Jessica

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  9. Happy early Birthday! Your birthday is right by mine - I am July 12! Imagine that! I know so many July babies - all such great gals! Woo! July babies rock! =D

    This is a LOVELY pick from Dolly & Dotty! I love them more and more everyday! And the HAT! Oh that lace is beyond beautiful! <3

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    1. That's super cool! Fellow bloggers vintage Kate-Em, CiCi (from CiCi Marie), and Marija from Pinky Purple Honey all have birthdays within the same week as ours, too. If only we could all meet up and celebrate in person. How incredible would that be?! :)

      Big hugs & joyful b-day countdown wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  10. I adore your hat it is beautiful and suits you perfectly! We also think alike because today on my blog is the summer hat Tanith made for me! Have a marvelous birthday. My 30s have been very good to me, I didn't get into vintage until I turned 35, they are my favorite decade yet and I sure hope my 40s, which are just around the corner, are as fun and as filled with vintage

    retro rover

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    1. How exciting that you'll soon be heading into your second decade of living a vintage filled life. Your passion for all things yesteryear is immensely evident, dear Kate, and brightens so many lives, especially through your blog and Instagram account.

      Thank you very much & have a marvelous weekend!
      ♥ Jessica

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  11. Happy birthday for in four days time; hope you have a wonderful time! Love, love, love your outfit and new hat!!

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet Ellie. Isn't that hat breathtaking? I've never owned anything quite like it before and am so in awe of the amazing work that Tanith did on it.

      Many hugs coming your way,
      ♥ Jessica

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  12. That is a very pretty hat, and a wonderfully put together outfit. And Happy Birthday!

    Sarah
    www.sewcharacteristicallyyou.com/blog

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    1. Thank you so much, darling gal. Just two more days to go - I think, after all the turmoil of June, I'm finally starting to get a bit excited about it (usually I'm giddy by the start of July, but the postal strike et al put a damper on such this time around). Yay! :)

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  13. Lovely hat, perfect for special occasions! And super cute dress! Looove summer florals! :)

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    1. Thank you very much, dear gal. Same here - big time! Florals are a mainstay of my wardrobe all year round, but come summer, my closet could easily be confused with a garden. :D

      Big hugs & happy weekend wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  14. Oh my god that is amazing! Tanith is so talented, it is exactly like the hat in that movie, perfect :) Very inspiring as always!

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    1. What a wonderfully lovely comment, sweet Sara. Thank you so much! Isn't it though? Tanith did an absolutely incredible chop here and captured the spirit of the original hat to a tee.

      Have a stellar weekend!
      ♥ Jessica

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  15. I love how colorful your ensemble is, with all the purple, pink, and burgundy. Happy upcoming thirty-second birthday!

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    1. Thank you very much, my dear. I really like the sweetness and elegance of this colour palette, too. It would be breathing, don't you think, for a wedding?

      Many hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  16. OH MY!
    You are so divine!
    Happy early birthday-- I hope the sunshine continues =)

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    1. Thank you very much, lovely lady. What an awesome way to be described. I second that hope - especially after multiple rainy days this week. We'll see what Mother Nature feels like sending my way come the 10th. :)

      Oodles of hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  17. This is just dreamy! Such a lovely outfit. :) Wishing you a very happy early Birthday!

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    1. Thank you very much, dear Sarah. It's amazing how quickly the past year flew by. Hopefully the next one will feel a little slower (though I doubt it will!).

      Many hugs coming your way,
      ♥ Jessica

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  18. Love the color and the outfit combo! The Women, is one of my all time fave movies. In fact, I use the color "jungle red" in my writing all the time. LOL I usually watch The Women and Orchestra Wives back to back. They're the best 40s chick flicks EVER!

    You've outdone yourself and its fabulous!

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    1. That sounds like one of the best - and, hands down, most fashionable - double features ever! If watching those two flicks doesn't make one yearn for a time machine (and a sizable bank balance ;D), I don't know what would!

      Many hugs & thanks for your great comment,
      ♥ Jessica

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  19. What a unique hat! I've definitely never seen one like that before, so that is so wonderful that Tanith was able to recreate it for you.
    The Artyologist

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    1. It truly is. Tanith's creative talents know no bounds, in my books, I feel so honoured to have been able to team up with her again for this exciting bespoke hat.

      Thank you very much for your lovely comment, dear Nicole. I hope that you're having a sunny, terrific week!

      xoxo ♥ Jessica

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  20. That hat is so lovely and unique! It's such a shame hat-wearing has been out of fashion for so long, since hats add a touch of elegance and personality to the wearer. I also love that your hat and cardigan are purple. I probably have more purple than anything in my wardrobe, since there's no such thing as having too many purple clothes as far as I'm concerned. I also have lots of purple jewelry, including in three of my current nine ear piercings. I also have purple opals in my navel bar, though I'm pretty much the only person who ever sees my navel jewelry.

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    1. Agreed completely. Though I do understand the various reasons that lead to such, I will never fully wrap my head around the fact that we, as a collective whole, pretty much did away with the wearing of beautiful hats on a regular basis. Why would anyone willing give up such a vast, whimsical and gorgeous category of accessories? Thankfully many of us with a passion for vintage help to ensure that they don't go extinct entirely.

      How fabulous that your closet and jewelry box are both peppered with purple. It's a colour that has grown on me all the more in the last few years and which I've been especially enamoured with so far in 2016.

      Big hugs & happy weekend wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  21. SHUT THE FRONT DOOR THAT HAT IS BLOODY AMAZING!! And what an outfit you've put together here Jessica! I love that movie and the fashion is unbelievable so I'm now full of envy that you and Tanith created this beauty together!! OHMYGOSH

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    1. Your sentiments mirror my own the moment this stunner arrived and each time I've seen (or worn) it since. Tanith has such an incredible gift and we as the vintage fashion community are certainly better because of her work and presence in our midst.

      Thank you very much & have an awesome weekend!
      ♥ Jessica

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    2. Haha thank you Nora! And Jessica that is so sweet, you are too lovely :)

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  22. Jessica, you look gorgeous (you always do, but this hat is fabulous)! You know, I have been meaning to watch The Women for a long time, it has been on my list of movies to see. Now I must say, I am incredibly inspired to watch the movie, perhaps even today as I am on uni holidays and have the day free. I hope you have a truly wonderful birthday Xxx.

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    1. Thank you so much, sweet dear. I hope that you're able to watch The Women. The incredible late 30s fashions in it are almost overpowering in their awesomeness, and I'd certainly bet that you'll love this great mid-century movie big time.

      Many hugs coming your way,
      ♥ Jessica

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  23. Gorgeous! Tanith is so fabulously talented and you've put together a beautiful outfit to bring out the drama of the hat.

    And The Women is a great movie. I need to watch it again now that I'm more into vintage fashion.

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    1. She truly is! I am perpetually in awe of every last thing that Tanith creates - massively including this beautiful purple topper.

      Thank you for the wonderfully lovely compliments. It was a lot of fun to style a look around a hat this dramatic. In the chillier weather, I look forward to doing so again with suits/blazers.

      Many hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  24. Happy almost birthday! And I must say, Tanith really did you right with this hat, because it. is. AMAZING. I love the color, the shape, the lace, and how beautifully it sets of your coloring. That's a pretty fabulous post to round out your year!

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    1. It really is a true work of millinery art - and I don't say that lightly. Tanith was able to transform a hat in a movie into real life and that is no small feat in the slightest. She's a gifted, inspiring woman, whose work would no doubt be appreciated by devoted hat fan - vintage or modern - the world over. I feel very fortunate to be able to share it with the portion of such that reads my blog. :)

      Big hugs & fab Friday wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  25. What a fabulous hat! I love the color and the use of lace. The Women is an excellent movie to draw inspiration from. Hope you are having a wonderful birthday week :)

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    1. It truly is! No matter how long one has been interested in and/or wearing vintage styles, The Women is a treasure trove of inspiration and amazing styling ideas.

      Thank you very much, my friend. I hope your week is going wonderfully, too.

      Many hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  26. 'The Women' is a fantastic film for inspiration. Hope you are having a wonderful birthday week!

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    1. Agreed completely. I can only imagine how much fun it must have been to actually wear the complete ensembles that it features (*swoon!*).

      Big hugs & many thanks for your lovely b-day week wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  27. That outfit gave me a real shock, as I think of you as wearing autumnal colours. But it certainly does look good on you. The hat is a real showstopper. The 1930s really was a golden age for hats, wasn't it?

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    1. Very keen eye and observation, dear Mim. In recent years (in particular), I have gravitated heavily towards either autumnal hues or bright, vivid colours (such as those in my cherry filled outfit from last week). Earlier on in CV's life, I sported more spring and (gentle) summer colours, but evidently have been drifting from such as I've gotten older. It was a lot of fun to connect with these lovely, feminine shades all at once again and to complete the look with such a breathtaking hat.

      Wishing you a splendid weekend,
      ♥ Jessica

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  28. Oh my what a wonderful hat, which by the way looks amazing on you! Such a lovely floral dress too! Happy Birthday Jessica! xo

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet Camilla. It really an incredible hat. Tanith did an impeccable job of bringing my vision to life and I feel so grateful to now own this magnificent creation.

      Many hugs & happy weekend wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  29. What a truly magnificent hat! I'm totally bowled over! The dress is lovely too, such nice colours, which really suit you. A big hug xxx

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    1. Thank you very much, lovely Ann. It was honestly a lot of fun to delve into such a feminine, warm weather colour palette again. I can't recall the last time I got to rock so much purple in one outfit! :)

      Big hugs coming right back at you,
      ♥ Jessica

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  30. Happy birthday!! The hat is wonderful, the dress is amazing. You look stunning! Love the colors and the floral fabric. Wow!

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    1. Aww, thank you so much, sweet dear. What an awesomely lovely comment.

      Many hugs & happy summertime wishes coming your way,
      ♥ Jessica

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  31. You will most definitely stop traffic in this ensemble, it is heavenly. In a world where so many wear black and grey and such as a uniform almost, it's so wonderful to see you always standing out in bold and vibrant colour. I can't believe how wonderful you look. You would fit right in that film, they are some seriously stylish ladies but so are you my dear. May your next year be filled with love, happiness, colour and richness in many forms xx

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    1. Sweet Emily, as always, you honour me and touch my heart with your kind, sweet, entirely positive words and I cannot begin to thank you enough for such.

      Many hugs & the happiest of weekend wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  32. what a gorgeous hat! the perfect lacy frame for your pretty face!!! very well chosen colors!
    and the dress colors work so well with it - that petrol blue! fantastic!
    big hugs! xxxxxx

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    1. That's so wonderfully sweet of you to say, dear Beate. Many, many thanks! I adore this alluring, feminine and subtly mysterious shade of blue so much. It's awesome to have a dress staring it in my closet now.

      Big hugs & merry weekend wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  33. YOU LOOK LIKE A DREAM!!! So beautiful! And Happiest of Birthdays, my dear, darling friend! XOXOXOXOX

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    1. You are sweeter than a million birthday cakes, darling Franny. Thank you, deeply and truly, for your wonderful birthday wishes.

      Tons of hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  34. Its a beautiful hat indeed...
    Enjoy your bright, sunny days... just the fact that we have them is a reason to get up, get dressed and celebrate- hugs.

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    1. It definitely is - especially since they're still something of a rarity around here at the moment (which is pretty much unheard of for our part of the world in July). Keeping my fingers crossed for a sunny birthday, but either way, I'm sure it will be a delightfully fun day.

      Many hugs coming your way,
      ♥ Jessica

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  35. Have a wonderful birthday week!
    This outfit, especially the hat, looks so amazing on you!
    I really love the colours and all the beautiful details.

    Many hugs,
    Sandra <3

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet Sandra. It was a lot of fun to delve into this colour palette. It isn't one I wear all that often, yet I love it to bits and really think I need to marry these hues more often - especially in the sunny months.

      Big hugs coming your way,
      ♥ Jessica

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  36. Happy birthday week, my dear friend! You look positively beautiful! That shade of blue on the dress is divine with the varying shades of purple.

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    1. Don't they jive together so charmingly? I would love to do a room up in these very colours one day.

      Many thanks & hugs to you, my sweet friend,
      ♥ Jessica

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  37. Happy slightly early birthday lovely! I hope you have the most wonderful day! It's so nice you can be in such high spirits considering the weather - the rain always brings me down so if it rained 6 out of 8 days right at the start of summer I'd be feeling pretty down about it, haha.

    I love that the two of you collaborated and came up with your perfect hat! It must be such a wonderful feeling to look at it and finally hold it in your hands. :) I also love your blush pink handbag - it's such a beautiful colour and I really don't own enough of anything in that shade! Hope you're well and that the sun comes out for your birthday! x

    Jessica - littlehenrylee.net

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    1. Thank you ever so much, sweet dear. You always brighten my days with your awesomely lovely comments.

      True! This is not an overly easy colour to find in the fashion world (especially after the 1980s, which, IMO, was when it last really had a major style moment), let alone in accessory form. I hope that some (more) great pieces in this charming shade come your way.

      Have an awesome weekend!

      xoxo ♥ Jessica

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  38. Happy Birthday dear! You look so lovely. Enjoy your day.

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    1. Thank you very much, my lovely friend. Hopefully the sun will return again this weekend. We've had plenty of rain throughout the week and I really wouldn't place any bets on a dry Sunday. Either way, I'm sure it will be a fun, memorable day - perhaps, come to think of it, all the more so if it does end up raining then, too.

      Many hugs & happy weekend wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  39. Wow, wow, wow! This whole ensemble is stunning. I love how original the hat is -- even it being inspired by the movie; it's just not a style I've ever seen anywhere in the modern vintage community so far! Tanith's work is incredible and you look gorgeous in it.

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    1. That's a great point. I wouldn't say that I've seen any other hats that really mirrored the look of this one being worn by fellow vintage fashion fans these days either. The big lace ties and bow make it such a stunning standout piece and would really help make it the perfect Easter bonnet.

      Many thanks, hugs & happy weekend wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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    2. Thank you Kira! It's really lovely to read that thought, because I do love to find some less common styles, and I know Jessica does too!

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  40. Wonderful color combinations once again! Have a very happy birthday!

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    1. Thank you very much on both counts, dear Daphne. It's genuinely hard to believe another birthday is here again already. How time flies! :)

      Have a fabulous weekend!
      ♥ Jessica

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  41. Gorgeous hat (Tanitha did an amazing job capturing the feel of the original hat from the Women!) and I love the outfit you wore it with! Gorgeous dress and I just love the accessories and all these colors together. Such a lady Jessica! <3 The walking path by your house sounds amazing as does the day you got to take these photos! A very happy birthday to you Jessica! I hope you have a great one! <3

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    1. Thank you sweetly, lovely lady. I'm seriously smitten with the colour palette here as well. I think it would look amazing for a room, too - perhaps a guest bedroom or living room.

      We really are fortunate to have this beautiful path literally across the street from us. Day or night, in snowy or sunny weather, it's always an amazing place to clear one's mind and connect with nature.

      Many hugs & happy weekend wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  42. Wow, you look like you just stepped off the silver screen of a glorious Golden Age Hollywood film! I love all the shades of purple you've got going on in this outfit (blues and purples being my favorite colors). And that lace band!

    And of course, happy birthday! Also, love the pun with your blog title - "capping" off the year with a "hat"...great! ;-)

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    1. Thank you very much, dear Grace - including for picking up on that fun hat related pun. :) You have absolutely flattered me with your wonderfully nice compliments.

      Many hugs & happy weekend wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  43. 31 has never looked more beautiful! Wishing you the happiest birthday and all good things, purple and otherwise! You make it all look gorgeous, every time, in every way.

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    1. Ann, you are off-the-charts sweet. Thank you very, very much. I will not soon forget your immensely lovely compliment.

      Giant hugs & joyful summertime wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  44. Happy belated birthday congratulations! You look absolutely gorgeous, your whole outfit is put together so beautifully. I love your hat, it's amazing! I haven't seen that film, so am definitely going to check it out. I hope you get to wear this hat a lot more, the weather has been rubbish where I am too, so fingers crossed! XxxX

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet lady. I hope so as well. This past week didn't offer up too much on that front and in the end, probably to no one's surprise here locally at this point, it rained buckets on my birthday. In my 32 years of life, that's only about the 3rd or, maybe, 4th time I can recall having rain on my birthday, no matter where in the world I lived.

      I'm really starting to think we're just going to get a damp summer from start to finish and am now focusing more on hoping for a lovely, drier autumn.

      Mother Nature sure is in a peculiar mood in many parts of the world this year. I'm sorry that you've been having crumby weather lately, too. Let's not give up hope that things could still turn around and who knows, maybe we'll having sunny, stunning Augusts and Septembers.

      Many thanks again & happy wishes for the rest of July,
      ♥ Jessica

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  45. That hat is amazing. Not to mention the entire ensemble. The colors are so beautiful together. Also, that hat pin, it's huge. I love it. You look great.

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    1. Thank you so much, dear Akram. Aren't hatpins fabulous? I don't have that many, but I find that so long as you have various sizes, you don't, objectively, need a ton (as lovely as such would be). They're definitely a "must have" accessory, in my opinion, if one sports vintage hats - I know mine have saved me from losing a hat to the elements on many an occasion.

      Big hugs & joyful July wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  46. Wow! That is one amazing hat! Tanith has created such a thing of beauty. It really suits you and I like the outfit that you have paired it with. I hope you had a very happy birthday and had a lovely time celebrating.

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    1. Hi sweet Kate-Em, thank you very much. I had a great birthday - lowkey, spent with loved ones, wayyyy too much food. I spent the two days prior and morning of prepping and cooking for it, so between that and Sunday itself, I'm feeling things from a health standpoint now, but that's okay - you only get one b-day a year, after all. :)

      I hope that your celebration rocked this week, too. I've been thinking of you big time and sending tons upon tons of the most heartfelt and cheerful birthday wishes your way!

      xoxo ♥ Jessica

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    2. Sounds lovely, what kind of food did you have? All your favourites I hope! Mine was pretty quiet, meal out with family, and was very nice indeed. I hope your health recovers quickly!

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    3. It was such a huge spread! I didn't/couldn't eat everything on the table, but as I recall there was...barbequed chicken breasts and thighs, and pork chops; oven roasted potatoes, cream corn, wax beans, sauteed mushrooms, sauteed asparagus, pasta salad, gherkin pickles, and all the classic toppings (sour cream, butter, chives, bacon bits, cheese) for baked potatoes to put on the roasted spuds. Then for dessert, I made and brought over a GF/EF chocolate cake with fluffy white frosting and GF/EF blueberry, white chocolate & sour cream muffins, plus a carton of GF/EF Neapolitan ice cream. Definitely the biggest spread I've sat down to since Xmas - and I think I might be full until next Christmas after it. :D

      Thank you sweetly, I hope so as well. Definitely going to be taking things very, very easy this weekend.

      Tons of hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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    4. Ooohh, and there was cauliflower, too - almost forgot that. :)

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    5. Wow! That is a birthday feast indeed! Sounds delicious!

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  47. This is a FABULOUS outfit. The hat...amazing, the dress, I LOVE, the cardi...gorgeous and yourself lighting up the countryside. (I see that you've had a birthday, so sending you sunny wishes from Downunder). xx

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    1. Thank you very much across the board, dear Elizabeth. I did indeed just celebrate a birthday - though, to no one's surprise around these parts, it rained up a storm that day, so I wasn't able to photograph my b-day outfit. No bother though - just a perfect excuse to replicate it again later this season when the sun is out again. :)

      Many hugs coming right back at you from Canada,
      ♥ Jessica

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    2. Thank you, and I was thinking of your postal dilemma earlier in the month and hoping it all resolved itself quickly. xx

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    3. That is very kind and considerate of you to say, Elizabeth. Thank you for your concern. I'm elated to report that, for the moment, the strike situation has died down (though the possibility of flaring right back up again at any moment is still a very real threat) and as such, I've been able to reopen my Etsy shop like usual. Hopefully things will run as smooth as silk regrading Canada Post for the rest of the summer - and far, far beyond.

      Thank you again & have a gorgeous Sunday,
      ♥ Jessica

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  48. A fabulous and grand chapeau to be sure! Great colors at work in this ensemble, the very pretty and classic pink handbag caught my eye as well. The Women really is such a fabulous film for fashion, and Russell's character gets the best/craziest outfits of the bunch which are all so wonderful!

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    1. Thank you ever so much, my darling friend. I loved wearing this palette - it had been a good long while since I last married this set of colours. They speak of late spring/early summer so nicely, IMO, and were a lot of fun to sport.

      Agreed! There isn't a thing in that film that she wears which I wouldn't at least attempt to pull off myself, too. :)

      Tons of hugs & happy weekend wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  49. What a beautiful and festive hat. Such a sight to see. And I forgot your birthday! :( I'm SO sorry, dear. I hope you had a fabulous day, with lots of love, sunshine, gifts and your favourite candy and desserts. I have been extremely busy at work, everybody is on vacation except me, so I have worked hard. And we have worked hard at home too finishing the greenhouse project. Wednesday, I cleaned it inside and moved in. It is a dream I didn't even dare dreaming that has come true. Have a lovely day, my dear friend. XOXO

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    1. Please don't worry for the tiniest of moments, sweet Sanne. I did indeed have a really nice birthday. Other than the fact that it rained buckets on my b-day, it was a fun, enjoyable, lowkey event filled with family, al fresco dining (under a canopy, to stay dry), and delicious treats. A very enjoyable note to usher in my 32rd year of life on for sure.

      It really sounds like you've been hopping with activity lately. I hope that you aren't getting overworked, my dear friend.

      That's awesome about the greenhouse nearing (or having reached?) completion. I'm thrilled for you guys! I know how very, very hard you've worked and hope that it's even better in the end than you'd been imaging/envisioning it would be.

      Thank you again & have a beautiful mid-July weekend.

      xoxo ♥ Jessica

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