September Update

We had a fantastic photo shoot this month! The new pictures for the holiday line are up on the website.

It's very hard to choose, but I think my favorite is this blocked beret in black velvet. It perches on your head so you can wear it no matter what size you are. The combination of velvet, silk, and sparkly crystals is so sumptuous, not to mention the powder blue dupioni silk lining. See the rest of the collection here.

I also want to share a sneak peak at the new pouches I made for Pangaea. They feature the cutest out of print animal fabric, so get yours now while they're still available.

Rene Gruau Illustrations Featuring Millinery

Rene Gruau was one of the finest fashion illustrators of the 20th century. Working a lot with Christian Dior, his illustrations are often associated with the New Look. Below are some great mid-century illustrations of his featuring hats.

Hats of Elsa Schiaparelli

Elsa Schiaparelli is one of my all time favorite fashion designers. I am blown away by the level of detail in her work and the sheer originality. Her surrealist fashion collaborations with Salvador Dali are legendary. In May, I drove into New York to see the exhibit of her designs in person at the Met. It was worth the trip to see the buttons she uses up close, alone. I love imagining the bold woman between the wars who wore a bug necklace or a shoe hat.

Her couture house was a Paris staple for 20 years, but closed it's doors in 1954 after being unable to adapt to changes in the fashion industry after the war. Last month it reopened at Place Vendôme in Paris and they are launching their first line in over half a century next February.

In honor of this renewed public interest in this cherished iconoclast, I wanted to share some images of her incredible millinery work.

Best Hats of the Runway - Spring 2012

Roksanda Ilincic

 I love the shape of this hat. It suggests a classic turban, but is just boxy enough to be new. Love the bright green paired with classic black, and white shades.

Burberry Prorsum

Burberry really plays up their British heritage with this fun cap. You could easily see the same thing in tartan, but I love the freshness of the straw. It would be much easier to pull off without the pom-pom, but it would miss the playfulness.

Ralph Lauren

This classic cloche hat paired with a boyish silhouette and pearls is highly suggestive of the 1920s. It's nice seeing a take on the decade other than "flapper". Crushing the parisisal gives it some visual interest on the runway, but with a smooth crown this would be lovely to wear out.

Boy and Girl by Band of Outsiders

I love boaters! Happy to see them on the runway again since Marc Jacobs brought them back in 2009. There were quite a few to choose from this year, but the tall crown and black color of this one make it special.

Christian Dior

Suggestive of a sailor hat, but not a bit masculine. Bill Gaytten is on the ball.

Christian Dior Couture

 The turban headband look has been popular for a few years. I've seen it a lot in knits for winter, but I love the chicness of this summer look.

Moschino

There were a few hats this year that looked like an explosion of flowers, but this one gets it right. The shape is organic and the color is so nice with the cream and black of her clothes. Moschino did a lot of very Spanish looking hats this spring. This one is suggestive of the culture, but definitely a new take.