Embellishing a Hat to Suit Your Style

Hi everyone! My name is Nicole and I run The Artyologist, a blog about vintage, sewing, fashion, lifestyle, and art. I've been following Chronically Vintage for a few years now, so I was thrilled when Jessica asked me to write a guest post for her while she is on holidays (to Edmonton)!

I love vintage style, and have worn it for about five years now. However, I have a confession: I don't own many real vintage garments! I mostly rely on what I can alter or make myself, adding in accessories to get a vintage-style look.

Many of my "vintage" garments are actually ones that I have sewn myself, or are thrift store finds that I have changed up in some way in order to look vintage, whether that means adding embellishments, changing buttons, hemming to a better length or altering to fit.

The sad, but true, reality of vintage is that there is a finite amount of it left in the world. Does this mean that those who can't afford or find true vintage have to miss out on this wonderful fashion style, though?

No way! Just as with any other trend or style, as in centuries past, women have made for themselves what they couldn't afford or find, and in my wardrobe, I live by this principle today too, "vintageifying" things so they fit my style.

Hats are great accessories for really pulling an outfit together, but sometimes it can be hard to find good hats that are not in disrepair (shattered veils, in-washable stains, moth holes...) and putting together a hat collection, when a hat that is in good shape costs a lot, is just not feasible for many of us vintage lovers.

This is why, in recent months, I have turned to refashioning hats: so I can get that vintage look, without spending a lot. (And it is also why I am seriously regretting getting rid of those hats I didn't like, instead of altering them! Save yourself- don't do that!)

I picked up this little black hat for a song, earlier this spring, from an antique store, along with a couple other hats that really needed some help. I remember seeing this hat a few years ago in West Edmonton Mall (I recognized the label) so I know that this hat is not actually vintage.

When I saw it new, a few years ago, I thought the embellishment on it was soooo boring, that I passed on it, thinking that, although it would be a good starting point for a refashioned hat, the price wasn't worth it.

However, when I saw it for sale second hand, in good condition and at a much better price point than it was new, I picked it up thinking, like Lydia from Pride and Prejudice, "Look here, I have bought this bonnet. I do not think it is very pretty; but I thought I might as well buy it as not. I shall pull it to pieces as soon as I get home, and see if I can make it up any better."

Soon after buying this hat, I came across this image from Philip Treacy's Autumn/Winter 2015 collection, and fell in love with it. (In case you are wondering who Philip Treacy is, he is a UK milliner who designs hats for the Royal Family.)

Go and look at his hats- they are jaw droppingly gorgeous!  ) I absolutely love this hat: it is so outrageous and over the top, and really what's not to love about mint?

As soon as I saw it, I started thinking about how I could make something similar, and I decided that a large flower on my black hat would be just the thing. So, here is how I created the flower, and how I styled the finished hat for a 1940's look.

I decided to make the flower out of chiffon, as we happened to have scads of it left over from a past project. You could use stiffer organza too- which would give you a rounder pompom shape, or tulle or netting, which would be softer. I cut out a ton of circles, 5 inches in diameter.

You will need 30-50 circles depending on the material and stiffness, and how full you want the flower to be. Don't worry about being too precise, as the edges will be melted and the pieces will be gathered for the final flower. And definitely do cut your circles through several layers at once, to save yourself time!

I didn't want the fabric to fray to pieces, so I decide to finish the edges by singeing them. Singe the fabric by CAREFULLY holding the material over a candle until the edges start to melt and curl. Be very careful with this! You are literally holding a meltable material over top of a flame!

You will need to hold the fabric about 6 inches away from the flame and slowly dip in and out and across so the heat starts to curl it. You don't need to bring the fabric too close, otherwise the heat will start melting the whole circle, rather than just the edge. (Voice of experience. . . )

Once you have singed the fabric, you will be left with curled lily pad shaped petals. Take a circle and fold it into quarters. Stitch through the corner of the folded piece, catching all 4 layers, and loop to tie a knot so it won't pull through the fabric.

Continue to string together the folded circles using the same method, until the flower is at your desired fullness. Once you get a fuller shape, you can gather some of the centre petals so they are fuller, as the soft fabric likes to "flop".

If your fabric is stiffer you can continue stringing until you get a pompom shape. For mine, with the soft chiffon, I gathered the entire flower together in my hand and stitched through the entire bottom of the flower to give it some shape. Really just play around with the fabric and arrange it into a nice shape.- there isn't really a hard and fast method.

Sew a button, a bead, a stuffed piece of fabric, or really anything in the centre. I did this, because my chiffon was too soft to form a pompom. However, like I said before, if your fabric is stiffer, just keep adding to it and you will get a lovely round shape and won't need a button at all. Also, I ended up switching out to a black button in the end, instead of the silver one pictured.


Sew a little round felt disk to the bottom, to keep the flower in shape. If possible, do not glue the flower onto your hat! I have other hats which have been hot glued, and it is just nasty to try and fix later on. Sew it onto the hat with cotton, or other natural fibre, thread.

Don't use a polyester blend thread, as over time polyester can cut natural fibres, and you will be left with a hat full of holes. You could also add a brooch pin to the flower, instead of sewing it directly to the hat, so it is removable.

And that is it!

This hat was so completely and utterly boring to start with. They really had a good thing going with the veil and the leaves. . . and then it's like they ran out of ideas, so they just plunked a little brooch on top. (At least it was removable so now, not only do I have a hat, I also have a brooch!)

I don't even have a before picture of this hat on my head, because it was severely unflattering. However, the giant pompom like flower in Philip Treacy's hat, is really what this hat was missing.

Mine turned out a lot smaller than I was planning, and less poufy, but I think it totally works for the style of the hat, and I really like it. By simply adding some embellishment, this hat is now completely revitalized and it will be a great addition to my winter wardrobe.

I've paired it here with an 80s does 40s dress, and some retro accessories, which makes it look quite vintage. If I hadn't told you, I bet you wouldn't have known. :)

Well, that's all, and I hope this has inspired you to look at the garments and accessories you have, with an eye towards how to make them work for you.

Maybe it will inspire you to pick up that ugly hat or dress you would usually pass up in the thrift store, and refashion it to become your new favourite piece. Maybe all it needs, like this hat, is a large and obnoxious flower!

♥ Nicole

DIY photo tutorial: How to make a beautiful birdcage veil

Hello everyone! My name is Bianca and I run The Closet Historian, a fashion, costume history and lifestyle blog. It's great to be here on Chronically Vintage, I feel super honored that Jessica has asked me to do a guest blog post for you all while she's on a well deserved getaway to Vancouver! As an avid seamstress and crafter, I decided I would share a quick and easy (but rather glamorous) DIY project with you all!




One of my favorite vintage style accessories has to be the birdcage veil. Though they have reemerged in bridal fashion, often in white or ivory, I am surprised more people haven't started slipping them on for cocktail hour. Nothing adds so much vintage glamour so very quickly, except perhaps a swipe of red lipstick!




I really like wearing veils (or veiled hats) on the regular. Luckily, unlike some vintage trends that are hard to re-create, this one takes only minutes once you have gathered the correct supplies!


To do so, you will need:

- A needle and thread (in a color to match your netting)

- Scissors

- Two bobby pins

- At least a half yard of veiling (also called French netting or Russian netting). This is actually easier to acquire these days than you would think, as vintage has become so much more popular. It is readily available online through places like etsy, if you don't happen have any specialty fabric or millinery stores nearby.

Veiling comes in several widths, and for this quick little veil I would recommend 5-9" inch veiling. Of course you could always buy a larger width and cut it down to size, as veiling will not unravel or fray.




Once you have gathered your supplies, cut your length of veiling to anywhere between 10" and 14" inches long, the length will decide how far around the sides of your head (and towards the back) your finished veil will reach. I cut mine for this example at around 13" inches.

Cut around an forearms length of thread (longer threads get tangled too easily!) and double thread your needle (aka, tie the ends of the thread together creating a large loop containing the needle).







Each of the two short sides of the veiling will be gathered, wrapped, and a loop formed for a bobby pin. This is done by weaving the needle over and under the diamonds of the netting at about an inch inward from the cut edge and then pulling the thread tight. Wrap the thread around the gathered netting several times and knot to secure.

Then fold the extra edges of netting back towards the body of the veil and secure again by wrapping and knotting the thread. After you have everything secure with knots, carefully cut off your extra thread. You can then slip a bobby pin through the small loop of netting you created.




All you have left to do is repeat the same steps on the other side of the veil and presto you are finished! You can also embellish your finished veil by gluing on sequins or tiny rhinestones for extra sparkle if you feel like it.




It will look like this when it is finished and ready to be worn. Though veiling can be sewn onto hats themselves, you can also wear a veil like this one separately underneath or over a hat for an extra touch of vintage pizzazz! Creating a larger veil is still simple but requires buying a wider width of veiling and cutting it into an angled shape (see graphic below) before gathering the edges. For these longer veils, a gathering stitch is run along the entire side and top edge, from the bottom of one side to the other.

Instead of pulling the thread tightly and wrapping like you would for the smaller veil, leave about 6" inched of thread to play with before you secure the knot. You will then be able to move the netting along the thread to get the right volume and shape when you put the veil over your head.




Though making a veil really is a quick and simple DIY, they are so fun to have in your accessories stash to pop on whenever a little extra vintage glamour is needed – plus they’re a perfect craft for those who may want to dip their toes into creating millinery related projects.

I want to thank Jessica again for asking me to pen a post for you all, she really is just the sweetest blogger I know! If only everyone online was as generous and kind as she! If you are interested in more vintage inspired DIY's and sewing, please feel free to visit me over on The Closet Historian. Thank you for reading and have a lovely day!

How to make an incredibly authentic looking 1920s bathing suit

✯ Day 261 of Vintage 365 ✯

 

Carrying merrily along with celebrating National Sewing Month, today's post comes in just under the wire - the end of summer wire, that is.

I am continually impressive by the resourcefulness and creativity of vintage lovers, especially those who know their way around a needle and thread.

Recently I came across a detailed set of instructions on the superb historical costume blog, American Duchess, which provides detailed step-by-step instructions on how to turn a large sized men's heavy weight cotton knit shirt and a belt (paired, optionally, with knee-high trouser socks and Mary Jane shoes) into a staggering authentic looking 1920s bathing suit.

 

With a bit of pattern design and sewing, the lovely woman (and creator of this tutorial) pictured above, has made a bathing suit that really and truly looks as though it could have been plucked from your great-grandma's attic.

Run, don't walk, over to American Duchess and feast your eyes on the (relatively) easy steps needed to transform the most basic of everyday times (a black t-shirt) into a very historically accurate looking, completely delightful bathing suit that's both inexpensive (especially compared to buying an authentic 1920s wool swimsuit!) and incredibly charming.

Though summer may be nearly over, you can always whip up this great sewing project during the nippy months to take on a tropical vacation or tuck loving away in your closet for next summer.

Today’s Vintage Treasure: February 25, 2010

{While the cost of this basic sewing kit is much steeper than I’d usually promote, the beauty and appeal of the flapper-esque girl bedecked box it comes housed in helps to make up for part of the $55.00 (CND) sticker price. As a charming work of art, I could easily see this delightful box – which resembles a miniature vintage suitcase – taking pride-of-place on a bookshelf, dresser, counter top, or sewing table or anywhere you’d like to add a lovely dose of 1920s inspired fun to your home. If this cute sewing box is calling your name, you can find it on Overstock.com.}


Peering outside at this moment, one would think that they’d awoken in the arctic, snow whirling hurriedly in every direction, the resonating sound of a howling wind slashing across anything it comes in contact with. Alas however, I’m not up north keeping the polar bears company, but instead in good ol’ Toronto, which has been hit with a real wallop of a snowfall this week (on Monday we even experienced two brief blackouts in the later part of the evening, though luckily the longest one only last about five minutes).

In the midst of this snowy (though to be honest, not brutally cold – save perhaps for the wind chill week) week, I’ve been trying to catch up on a backlog of chores that are a tad overdue as a result of my being out of commission for a spell with a sinus cold in the middle of the month. Yesterday, for example, I did ten loads of laundry! (Thankfully we have washers and dryers in the basement of our building; I shudder to think about hauling that much laundry to a laundromat on the bus!) Unfortunately, that left me without a moment to spare to put together a Wonderful Wednesday Recipe post. I’ll try and make up for it next with an extra yummy (read: scrumptious dessert) recipe that I hope you’ll all enjoy.

As for the folding of all that laundry, it’s being done between today and tomorrow (today was also dusting day, which is an absolute must when you have a fuzzy little cat prowling around depositing her fur on everything in the apartment! :D).

Sweet thanks go out to all those who left comments (and opted to play along) on Tuesday’s post about playing blog tag, as well as to everyone who has left comments on any of Chronically Vintage’s other posts recently. It’s nothing short of a joy to hear from my readers– and fellow vintage loving friends – and I always want you to know how much I sincerely appreciate your visits and comments.

Whether you’re buried under a mountain of snow like me – or soaking up the delectableness of a placid winter (such as the one many parts of British Columbia have been treated to this season) - I really hope that you’re having a serene and splendid week!




*PS*

Be sure to tune tomorrow to find out the results of last week’s poll regarding what type of subject matter I should assign (or keep) for Friday’s weekly posts.

Five For Friday {September 4, 2009}

...A rough week leaves the mind weary but not entirely haggard. At the same time joyful that September has arrived, using the glee that this event brought with it to help unburden some of the other thoughts from my head. A weekend for healing and relaxing, celebrating Labour Day and bringing together five delightful, entirely eclectic recent finds...


♥ ♥ ♥


{To give a modern invention a thoroughly old school spin}


{This adorable and clever DIY kit allows you to adhere stickers that look like classic vinyl records to any CD (or computer disk) you wish, adding a fun vintage vibe to bland silver hued CDs everywhere! Vintage Vinyl CD packaging kit with 25 label stickers, $14.00 (US) from Turntable Lab.}


{To bestow a focal wall with a huge jolt of playful yet elegant art}


{Peering inside famed fashion designer Lulu Guinness’ home, I came across this photo of a wall in her study adorned with an amazing oversized silhouette hanging. I love this silhouette; it seems to be of a woman who looks as though she could have walked off the stage of Mad Men. It is however, based on Lulu herself, and, according to the article, can be ordered from The Rug Company (though I wasn’t able to find a listing for it on the site). I adore the idea of covering one of your walls with a giant vintage or antique looking silhouette cut-out or painting, don't you? Photo via Living Etc.}


{To make snack time even more enjoyable!}


{Credit for this find goes entirely to my beloved little sister who is currently trekking across Australia. Knowing I adore all things vintage, she sent me a snapshot that she was able to take in a store there of several bags of potato chips sporting very Vargas inspired looking pin-up gals! Intrigued, I instantly Googled the brand’s name (Sultry Sally) and discovered that they’re a very low fat brand of chips that are available in four delicious sounding flavours. I would buy these chips in heartbeat just for their gorgeous packaging, but am also highly intrigued to know how they taste. According to the official Sultry Sally website, these chips (or crisps, if you prefer) are available at various retailers across Australia. Photo via Popsop.com}


{To make the act of washing the dishes about a million times more beautiful}


{Growing up I would sometimes spy tables set up at malls and craft fairs, often manned by adorable little old ladies, selling J.R. Watkins products – extracts in particular, though I don’t recall ever having any of this company’s items around our house. Fast forward many years and I’ve become a devoted fan of this brand, which I’m happy to report, can now be found from many sources (including online). Aside from the tried and true extracts and other edible goodies, this brand serves up a fantastic array of natural home-care product such as the soothing yet lively lemon scented lemon dish soap pictured above, in containers with stunningly pretty, antique inspired labels. 750ml/24 fl oz bottle of dish soap, $6.99 (US) from J.R. Watkins.}


{To delight both your bookworm and princess sides}


{Renowned as an actress, revered as royalty, and respected the world over for her impeccably sophisticated and elegant fashion sense, Grace Kelly is truly a timeless muse. Treat yourself to a hardcover book bustling with photos of this legendary lady, which I’m sure is a tremendous source of all manner of inspiration, just as Grace herself was. Grace Kelly: A Life in Pictures, $24.99 (US) from ModCloth.com.}


What are your plans, my wonderful dears, as we dash into the last long weekend of the summer? Are you jaunting off on a trip, sticking to your own town, or parking yourself in the backyard while Mother Nature is still smiling down sunshine on us?

However you spend your Labour Day weekend, I hope it’s a fantastic, dazzling and very fun-filled one for you!!!