HATtastic

Simone Mirman

2008-08-07T11:00:00.000-07:00

from the Fashion Museum

from the Museum of London

RIP

2008-08-07T10:08:00.000-07:00

Miss J often read obituaries. It's very interesting to discover how someone's life evolves. You can read the rest of this fascinating bio here .

excerpted from the Telegraph.co.ok

Simone Mirman

Simone Mirman, pictured here with her daughter Sophie, had a particular gift for divining how the smallest adjustment could turn the adequate into the perfect Photo: PA

Simone Mirman, who died on August 1 aged 96, was one of Britain's best-known milliners, designing hats for members of the royal family, showbusiness personalities and aristocrats during a career that spanned half a century.

Never guilty in her creations of ostentation or over-intricacy, Simone Mirman's aim was always to achieve sophistication and elegance. She had a particular gift for divining how the smallest adjustment could turn the adequate into the perfect, and knew instinctively if a hat suited a particular face or personality.

Princess Margaret became one of her most loyal clients, and Mme Mirman was granted Royal Warrants by both the Queen (Simone Mirman created the hat worn by the Queen at the Investiture of the Prince of Wales in 1969) and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. Her clientèle extended far beyond royalty, also including actresses such as Vivien Leigh and Valerie Hobson, and the cream of English society.

Hats by Chritine A. Moore

2008-08-06T10:21:00.001-07:00

Available ay Hats in the Belfry

Hyatt

Tulie

Veronica

Lillian

Mona

Fascination

2008-08-04T11:43:00.000-07:00

Miss J has been coveting a fascinator for some time. This one from HatDiva arrived Friday. Miss J loooves it!

Order your own at HatDiva’s Etsy Shop.

Hot Toppers: Panache Couture Hats

2008-08-03T16:39:00.000-07:00

Staff reports from the Dallas Morning News on-line

Ten years ago, then bridal-gown designer Dalph Johnson bought his first hat block, thinking he might want to make a few veils.

Thus began a decade of millinery obsession – and a whole new look for man-about-town John Reoch.

"I learned by trial and error," says Johnson of his days apprenticing with local milliner Hazel Hodge, buying used textbooks at Half Price Books and dissecting hats purchased at thrift stores. "I look at millinery as sculpture; you have the option to make a hat any way you want it."

His customers have that option, too. Take home a made-to-order straw fedora for just $95, or splurge $400 for a bead-embroidered cloche.

Hats Off To Ireland’s Top Designer

2008-07-31T09:57:00.000-07:00

Ballyjamesduff Girl blazes trail to Royal Ascot

By Sean McMahon

from the Anglo-Celt on-line

Davina is thrilled with the response to her appearance on the show and inquiries about her amazing talents as a milliner have been rolling in every day since.

“People are contacting me about my hats from all over the place for occasions they have coming up in the near future,” beamed a smiling Davina.

Davina was born in Ballyjamesduff and works from a peaceful retreat at the rear of her home at Stradone Street. She uses the name ‘Davina Lynch Millinery’ as people like to see the name on the actual hat.

When she was over in London, Davina was fortunate to be selected for finals of the ‘Felt Makes Competition’ and she got second prize for the Peter Jones Ascot competition.

She also won the River Island competition and her design was put into production and sold in River Island Stores for Autumn/Winter ’07. Davina was also a semi finalist in ‘Hat Designer of the Year’ in Paris last year.

Her hats already have taken the Galway Races, Ascot and Killarney by storm, with pictures of ladies wearing her superb creations featuring in national papers both here and in England.

full story here

Miss Janey loves to see another female milliner on the rise.

A Hat for Your Man

2008-07-30T10:26:00.000-07:00

Miss J loves the fact that she's been seeing so many young, good-looking men wearing hats lately. And not just celebs. It seems everywhere she goes some hot young male is sporting a fedora. Miss J admires the look so much, she even bought the Mister a hat. Wanna get a hat for your man?

Goorin Brothers has great fedoras for under $40. Her are just a few:

FOLLYBROOK

YUCATAN

INDIA BLUE

July 28

2008-07-25T20:19:00.000-07:00

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

July 28, 1929 – May 19, 1994

Miss Janey thinks there has never been a lovelier, more stylish First Lady than
Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy. Her style is imitated to this day, her influence at the White House is still visible. Moreover, her petite frame, dark coloring and gorgeous cheekbones have always reminded Miss J of Mama Janey so she's always been a sentimental favorite.

It's Friday

2008-07-25T11:01:00.000-07:00

Get your good time on. These hats from Flamingo Jo’s Hats will help you do it in style.

July 24

2008-07-24T09:54:00.000-07:00

What can be said about J LO?

She hasn't had a hit movie in years... As for her music, well, Miss Janey has heard mating cats that sounded better. Her clothing line is dreck... She has a perfume, probably, but Miss J has no interest in sniffing it.

And its too bad.

Miss Janey LOVED her as slain Tejano singer "Selena" and thinks Jenny from the Block has some real acting ability when she really tries and isn't splitting her focus branding herself.

Moreover, J Lo is probably the star most responsible for bringing hats back to Hollywood

Long before Lindsey started sporting stingy brim fedoras, Miss Lopez was rocking every style of hat: floppy brims, cloches, knit caps, newsboys and cowboys hats.

Hell, she can even rock the turban.

That's another thing you can say about J Lo- she always tries to look fabulous and she's a woman who isn't afraid to take a fashion risk. Oh, and today is her birthday.

A little card in my hat

2008-07-23T10:48:00.000-07:00

"I wore a lot of vintage clothing. I dressed like a reporter, with a little card in my hat. I had these fantasies of who I wanted to be, so I'd dress like an explorer, a cowboy. I dressed up like Elton John a lot too. That was another period."

Illeana Douglas

Why just be yourself?

2008-07-18T10:43:00.000-07:00

I myself have 12 hats, and each one represents a different personality. Why just be yourself?

-Margaret Atwood

Diva Hats

2008-07-17T10:30:00.001-07:00

It's rare for Miss J to blog twice a row about the same hatter. She's over-whelmed by the fabulousness of these hats from Hat Diva’s Etsy Page and thus is forced to.

Last year, Miss J developed a fascination with facinating headwear fascinators. She is determined to find one for New Years. Hat Diva's Ethereal Headband is definitely a candidate. That mossy green is tooo mahvelous!

You wanna talk gorgeous col-ah? Look at the cornflower blue brim on her Crease Crown Cowgrrrl. That's hand-dyed, by the way. What that would do for Miss J's eyes...

Crease Crown Cowgrrrl

Last but not least, the Hemp Brim Cloche. Ya know those women who spend their entire lives dressed in black? Yeah, Miss J ain't one of 'em. If Miss J has "a color", it is red: sassy, hot, attention-grabbing, fire-engine, stop sign red. She looks great in it and more importantly, she feels great in it. Good-bye paycheck- this cloche has Miss Janey's name all over it.

Hemp Brim Cloche

July 16

2008-07-16T09:38:00.000-07:00

Barbara Stanwyck

July 16, 1907

They don't make dames like this anymore, that's for certain.

Hat Diva

2008-07-14T14:15:00.000-07:00

does Etsy.

Summer is far from over so there's plenty of sun to block ahead. Hat Diva not only makes hats and sells them, sometimes she blogs about the process on her site. Miss J is always curious about how hats get made and enjoys the inside look.

Here’s her Etsy link.

"I Wish I Could Wear Hats"

2008-07-13T14:41:00.000-07:00

Whenever Miss Janey is complimented on one of her hats, usually the kind remark is followed by, "I wish I could wear hats."

Miss Janey's reply is always, "You can." Life is short darlings. The time to be fabulous is NOW. It's all well and good for Jenny Joseph to write,

"When I am an old woman I shall wear purple, With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me" which was the inspiration for The Red Hat Society,

but what if you don't make it to old age? You'll never get to wear all those fabulous things you were putting off til old age.

The only thing impeding a gal or guy from wearing a hat is the nerve. And maybe a little fear of attention. And you will get attention. Good for you!

The excuse, Nothing looks good with the shape of my face (my head) won't cut it. There is a hat shape for everyone, its just a matter of searching. Toward that, Miss J has listed some links below.

Not only does Gena Conti make great hats, her website is extensive and features suggestions and illustrations.

WHAT HAT FOR YOUR FACE SHAPE?

Measuring for a Hat on GenaConti.com

From around the interwebs:

Pick A Hat for Your Face

Pick Hat That Suits Your Face

Follow Tips To Pick Hat That Suits Your Face

By Kevin Cowan, From knoxnews.com

For you men, The Perfect Hat For Your Ugly Mug

from the Art of Manliness

Look OOWWT!

2008-07-10T09:47:00.000-07:00

Ronnie James Dio

Born July 10, 1942

Do not think for a moment that Miss Janey is a fan of heavy metal ogre Ronnie James Dio. His screeching caterwaul offends Miss J's delicate sense of... everything.

It is for Mr. Janey that Miss J has posted this. His youth was misspent banging his drums along to the wail of albums like Holy Diver and The Last in Line. And one of Mr. Janey's favorite catch-phrases is the Dio-coined, "Look OowWT!" Listen to any Dio song, and you will hear what MIss J is talkin' about.

Miss J admits, she did attend a Rainbow concert once back in the day, but only because they warmed up for some other hard rock band, circa 1978, 1979...80? Foghat? Aerosmtih? Miss J couldn't tell you. She was too high that year.

As well as being a throat-tearing singer, Dio is credited by many for originating this piece of rock culture:

Yes indeedy- the Devil Horns. Rock on Dude. Bang yer head. Fuck yeeah!

So this birthday shout-out is for you, Mr. J. Look oowwt!

Oh, and P.S. Mr. D- with your hairline and all...you should really consider hats. Just sayin'. Your buddy Slash rocks the top hat...

O.K. Maybe that's not your thing...

but Miss J could totally see you an something like this...

Hey, man- you're the one who called your first band Elf.

July 8

2008-07-07T15:21:00.000-07:00

Anjelica Huston

July 8, 1951

"Of course, drugs were fun. And that's what's so stupid about anti-drug campaigns - they don't admit that."

"There were times when I hated my nose. But you grow up and you start to recognize that maybe it wasn't a bad thing that you weren't born Barbie."

"I've never been the kind of actress whose sole interest was sex appeal, so I think that earns you some longevity. And I like character parts. It's a lot more fun and you don't have to rely on being the taste of the moment. That level of fame is probably very difficult to deal with. People screaming your name in the streets, quite honestly, isn't an audience I'm desperate to capture. I'm lucky. The people who tell me they like my work tend to be the kind of people I might be friends with anyway. I have a really nice audience."

Born on the Fourth of July

2008-07-03T10:20:00.000-07:00

Eva Marie Saint

July 4, 1924

Neil Simon

July 4, 1927

Gina Lollobrigida

Born Luigina Lollobrigida

born July 4, 1927 in Subiaco, Italy

And last but not least, born on july 4, 1918, famed advice-dispensing twins:

Esther "Eppie" Pauline Friedman Lederer aka Ann Landers

"Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful."

and Pauline "Popo" Esther Friedman aka Dear Abby

"The best index to a person's character is
(a) how he treats people who can't do him any good, and
(b) how he treats people who can't fight back."

Blue

2008-07-02T10:09:00.001-07:00

1960's SUMMER BLUE & WHITE HAT

BLUE & WHITE HAT

Hattie Carnegie Navy Blue Straw Cloche

SHADES OF BLUE LADIES HAT

July 1

2008-07-01T09:51:00.000-07:00

Look at all the Lovely Ladies born July First

Diana, Princess of Wales

July 1, 1961

Leslie Caron

July 1, 1931

Twyla Tharp

July 1, 1941

Geneviève Bujold

July 1, 1942

Deborah Harry

July 1, 1945

Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette Elliott on July 1, 1971

Liv Rundgren Tyler

July1, 1977

White

2008-07-01T09:49:00.000-07:00

WHITE CHIFFON * HUGE BRIM * Derby Tilt HAT

WHITE STRAW DERBY

Rim Vintage White Hat With Bow

OFF WHITE SUMMER CLOCHE

Red

2008-06-27T20:27:00.000-07:00

Woven Hat With Red Netting

WWII RED STRAW WIDE BRIM tilt HAT FILENE'S

Red Raffia Bucket

Patriotic

Inspiration

2008-06-26T10:56:00.000-07:00

Une femme d’un certain age has a way with scarves. Her postings of her latest scarf creations constantly inspire Miss Janey to break out her own scarves.

Mr. J gifted Miss Janey with this scarf from Banana Republic a couple months back. He told Miss J he bought it specifically for her to wear as a headband. Mr. J has some taste there, doesn't he?

Cha Cha's House

2008-06-24T16:41:00.000-07:00

Available at Cha Cha’s House of Ill Repute

Miss Janey doesn't usually care for cowboy hats but she loves this one by Dina Pisani. The sleek shape and the spiders keep it fresh and funky.

What Miss J really loves are these stingy brim fedoras Pisani is best known for.

Fool's Gold

The Dove

Ruby

Chuckle

And Miss Janey's not the only one... Miss Keys likes 'em, too.