Art of millinery. So as most of you know by now, I have a bit of an obsession with hats. What can I say, I love how they can entirely change an outfit or even help you become a character in your own world. Yeah, that’s probably my love of theater talking. So I invited myself to visit my friend Kelly’s atelier, The Saucy Milliner. Well here I was all prepared to show you some beautiful vintage blocks and some of her creations only to discover that my post would look like this:
Kelly is starting a fabulous [ redacted ] of [ sentence redacted ]. She has a [redacted] [ word redacted], for her [ redacted] …….
Ha! Okay fine I made that sentence up, just me being dramatic again. Like every shoe designer or jewelry designer, milliner’s also have their trade secrets, their techniques are individual to them but I have to say Kelly was very forthcoming. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised because designers always keep their creations close until they are ready to show them to the world. Personally I think it makes the hats that much more special because they really are unique.
It’s not just the fabrics and designs that are so wonderful, the magic really starts with the hat blocks themselves. Many of the blocks that Kelly owns are around 100 years old! My hat, featured here, was made on a block from the late 1920’s. In fact about 90% of her huge block collection is vintage. She also works with a shipwright who makes custom blocks for her.
Many of the tools she uses for making hats are antiques as well. I love the history that is automatically infused into every new hat. With all the high tech gadgets we use on a daily basis it’s nice to see that sometimes old world techniques are still the best.
In addition to using very high quality millinery felt, for the base of her hats, Kelly has traveled the world to find beautiful antique veil, fancy feathers and other delightful accessories to adorn them.
One of the things that struck me the most was Kelly saying that in her atelier, a hat can sit on a block for weeks while she waits for it to speak to her or until she finds that perfect accessory for her masterpiece. There is nothing mass produced here, instead each hat is lovingly handcrafted.
As an added bit of interesting trivia, Kelly also owns several hat blocks that come from Milliners who make hats for the Royals. That’s right, she makes a hat on her ‘Kate Beret’ block – the same block used to make the Duchess of Cambridge’s Epsom Derby hat a year ago!
There’s so much that goes into creating a hat that I could write a whole book about it. When I went to visit the atelier, I was trying to do my best and focus on everything Kelly was saying, but there was so much to see. I might just have to take one of her workshops and learn all of it for myself!
Do you love the art of millinery?
*For more on the art of millinery follow me on pinterest and twitter*
33 Comments
love that vintage feeling! those hats look amazing
Hello Doll ! Okay I should confess I ALWAYS learn something new while reading every post of yours!
and i just love it!
it’s a beautiful write and great hats !
xx
nini
Awesome images…..glad to have found your blog!!!!
REBECCA
http://www.redtagchiclosangeles.com
That was really interesting. Such a cool vintage feel. Wish I looked good in hats like you do!
Thanks for sharing.
pjmscloset.blogspot.ca
Awe thanks! You know it just takes some time to find that perfect fit!
That was a cool post.
Those hat blocks are just so cool!
Hey doll! Lovely blog you have! thank you for visiting mine! following you now through BLOGLOVIN! follow back and lets stay connected!
Have an amazing weekend, kisses from Miami,
Borka
http://www.chicfashionworld.com
Good on Kelly! I love hats too, and love watching old MGM classics, when hats were all de rigeur. My ma still has that vintage style, and her statement, assorted hats are littered all over the bedroom I had as a child, and placed in their exquisite boxes. Maybe I’ll be like her when I grow up…
I’m so in love with your photography *o*
Thank you! That really means a lot, I appreciate it!
hey… what a lovely, interesting post! Thank you also for your comment on my blog! I think Lena Hoschek is very much your style!
kisses from Austria,
Tanja
http://www.typicalstoffy.com
I love hats. Great post.
If only I was in Canada!
So nice vintage pics! I love this post! xo
I love ateliers, that looks really amazing!
love, Gongy
A girl gotta love hats you know! Great post xo
http://zerxzastyle.blogspot.com
Thanks so much. I totally agree, I love a great hat!
great post! such cool stuff in these photos!
x
♥ Ellen
SHOPSTYLECONQUER.COM
Facebook
Instagram
Great post! It was a really interesting read – I know you love your hats and scarves! xo
Love the blue bucket hat with the pink bow. You are as much in love with hats, as I am with shoes. 🙂
XO, Michi
http://www.hautemenot.blogspot.com
Thanks! Yeah I love a great hat but I’ll take an amazing pair of shoes any day!
So many cool things ! The old style of making things still remains !! That’s amazing !
http://www.universeandyou.com.br
xoxo from Japan
Amazing photos, want that hats. 🙂
http://jonnessa.blogspot.com/
Thanks! The hats are beautiful
thank you for your sweet comment on my blog! i really love your blog and style, maybe we can follow each other? (:
http://www.styleandshades.blogspot.com
really intresting !
Nice pictures, it looks great! x
These hats look really awesome, great to get a look at how a designer works 🙂
xoxo Pakize
http://madamekeke.blogspot.com
This is so cool, it is the first time i am seeing a hat atelier.Many congrats to your friend, Kelly.
Sending love and peace.
Miss Margaret Cruzemark
http://margaretcruzemark.blogspot.com/
I would love one of those hat blocks!
Me too! They are such works of art in themselves!
wow nice post Caroline. Would love to take those with me and try 🙂
Hugs from miss JHENZ http://jeniferbalatico.blogspot.com/