6 Feb 2013

WhatIWore:

When: February 6, 2013

What:

THE STATEMENTS:
Hat: Self Made (more on that in a second)
Faux Fur Scarf: detached from old vest

THE BASICS:
Silk Blouse: Emerson Fry*
Army Jacket: Denim and Supply Ralph Lauren* (similar color)
Skirt: Madewell
Booties: Payless*

THE ACCESSORIES:
Tights: Zara
Handbag: Coach*
Lipstick: NARS Scarlet Empress

Where: Studio

Why: Well, first things first, I’ve gotta tell you about my hat! I made it! It’s my first experiment in millinery. I used a men’s thickness felt and a brand new hat block that I ordered from England. I’m sure some of you are interested in how the heck hat blocking works, so hopefully I can grab Adam to shoot photos when I block my next hat over the weekend.  Essentially you steam the felt and stretch it over a wooden block in the shape of the hat you want. Right now I have a fedora block and a vintage cloche block and I can’t wait to make a little spring/summer straw collection. I also plan on taking classes at a millinery supply store in Northern Indiana later this spring. YES for new hobbies!

So this first hat isn’t perfect, but I think it turned out nicely. I love the color and the thick band. I’m excited to experiment and hopefully with practice, become a decent milliner. 

Because the hat is so manly, I opted to turn to street style photography and take cues from the coolest girls on the block. I mean, girls who rock hats are so confident! I wish I could say I was feeling on top of the world this morning, but I’m a little out of my comfort zone again. It’s worth pushing it because as I look at these photos now, I really love this outfit. 

To balance the bigger coat, I went with a bandage style skirt and all one color on bottom. A silk blouse button all the way up feels modern and the faux fur scarf is cozy but chic at the same time. All in all, I like it!

See also: My army jacket with it’s original faux color for a snowy day in 2011.