Ode to hats (a.k.a. Things Indy needs more of)

 OK, I started working on this post, and then the big hoop-dee-lah royal wedding happened today, so now I have even MORE fodder for my point: Click, die of sartorial glee.

Does Prince William's new mum-in-law know how to ROCK a hat, or what?

I've been on a massive hat kick lately. Buying, making, and decorating hats and fascinators has become my new pastime. I now have a gigantic wicker box and an oversized tote bag full of the things. You'd expect the wearing of these confections to be looked at somewhat strangely in Vincennes.

But in Indy? We're on the up-tick toward becoming quite the fashion-zone. And yet I barely even see enough fedoras! And besides, fedoras are EVERYWHERE now. Innovate, y'all! I hereby propose that we need to wear a lot more hats along the way.

My current passion is the bowler. Think of Sally Bowles, maybe Alex from A Clockwork Orange (one creepy fellow, but his sartorial wits were the ONE thing he had in the right place), oh, and this guy:

Oh, yes.

A fine affair, indeed. Rawr.

Give me one good reason why not. It's flattering, versatile for a range of ensembles from professional to flamboyant, and it can be decorated with a variety of colored bands, feathers, and such. Must HAVE one.\

I've already extolled the joys of a nice, big floppy straw hat in a previous post.

I also really like this new, steampunk-esque take on the classic tophat.

via Tom Banwell, available on Etsy. (this statement not endorsed by the hatmaker)

The tophat is such a classic. I've become enamored with the thought of creating all kinds of hatbands out of things not designed to be hatbands, ever since I saw this delightful picture:

Found via Antique_Dolly

I can't wait to get my own decorated hats, miniature-hats, and flower, feather, and lace fascinators onto people's heads. If you think you're not a hat-person, you probably just haven't found the right one(s) yet. Take care; it can become an addiction.

Personal style: Incorporating dolly kei elements into everyday

It's well established that I'm super-enamored with the Dolly Kei style tribe that's slowly establishing itself out of Tokyo and into the world at large. But I meet the same sticking-point, over and over, as I evangelize the fun of the style. "That looks AWESOME," they say, "But I don't think I could pull off something that out-there."

I submit my Easter ensemble for your consideration, my dear skeptics:

Black embellished tunic-style dress: Candie's, on clearance at Kohls.
Curtain tassel: $9 at Jo-Ann Fabrics
Hat: Thrifted and self-decorated with silk ribbon, hydrangeas and peonies.
Green jade earrings: A handmade gift from my fiance'
Not shown: sensible nude pumps

The dress is fantastic because it is oh so versatile, just like a LBD should be, but the detailing sets it apart from the average LBD. I almost wore an oversized white butterfly pendant, but even though it was huge, it just shrank into the lacy collar.

A curtain tassel adds interest, is easy to coordinate, and takes the whole thing from 2D to 3D. With a beaded black eveningwear top or dress, a black tassel is amazingly elegant. I've noticed tassel-style beaded necklaces popping up on jewelry-shop racks here and there, too.

You probably wouldn't wear *this* hat everyday, but a nice big straw hat is a breezy, fun option for spring and summer. I consider at least one sun hat a must-have. Go with a plain one, or a more modestly-sized cloche or fedora if the big brim seems too flamboyant for your taste. Hats are so versatile! You can accessorize with a ribbon, scarf, a nice brooch -- I have a leftover groom's lily boutonniere that I stick to my straw hats with some corsage pins.

Oh, and if you *do* want this hat, it will be coming up for sale online in a matter of weeks!

Notes In Purple

Brianna is in a few classes with me at VU, including costume construction and history of costume. She seemed genuinely SHOCKED when I asked to get some pictures of her outfit. Probably just because the ways the two of us dress are drastically different. But, just because I don't wear it doesn't mean I don't appreciate it. I loved her mixing of the tough, military feel of the jacket with the softer textures of her hat and scarf. The layering of socks is an inventive way to combat the cold of a Midwestern January day. Creative layering? Mixing of harmonious patterns, color tones, and varying textures? Yes, please!

A few quick notes: Sorry for slacking for a couple of days. I'm doing better at this whole consistency thing (See my past blogs if you need a reference point), but I'm not perfect yet. I presume that will come with time.

Also, CCS has leaned to the goth side a bit much lately. I find myself homesick for my goth friends in Indianapolis. (And I get to see them tonight, whee!) But variety is the spice of life, and I remain committed to reflecting that here, through celebrations of a wide spectrum of individual styles in Indianapolis and the surrounding areas.

Dark Denizens part 2: Jo

Photos taken at Revenge, Thursday, Dec. 30, 2010

Long live:

• Pink and black
• Furry boots
• Intricate makeup
• Dance

Quickie: Truly, the world needs more good hats.

Glorious Gigi!

This is Gloria. She is the grandmother of my sister in law, Jessica. This woman is hilarious, awesome, and a stunningly good dresser, as you can see. The grandkids call her Gigi. She prefers that to "Grandma."

I was handing out programs at Jessica's wedding to my brother, Alex. Then I saw her. "God, you're an awesome dresser!" I gushed. "You can't have any of it," she said. We both laughed. I was in insta-love with this new family member.

She said if I want to dress as well as she does at her age, "marry a wealthy man." Well, I make my own money, and I'm marrying a broke musician. It's all good, though. Now, to the outfit: The coat is a high-quality mink. "I bought it with my last real estate check," she said. The dress is 100 percent silk. She bought it in Hungary. She didn't say where the hat or shoes were from, but when I told her I have a similar hat in black, she did give me a brief tutorial on the proper use of hat-pins. Allrighty, then! Long live Gigi!

Quickie: Dapper kid in Batesville

Photo courtesy of my brother Jason

This is Logan.

Logan dressed himself up all dapper-like to attend church and go out for some pizza with his family. Logan is 13. Logan's going to snag ALL the ladies if he keeps dressing like this when he grows up.

The Thrilling Thrift Hunt

Beware if you decide to jump on the thrift-store bandwagon. It becomes an addiction. The good news is that I can tell you the location of every top-notch bargain hunter's paradise from here to Evansville, Louisville, Dayton, and Cincinnati. Value World, the DAV, Salvation Army, St. Vinnies, Goodwill... I'm an encyclopedia of thrift-tasticness.

The bad news is, thrifting has become like crack to me. Well, at least it's generally less expensive. But seriously. I learned from the best. My step-grandmother's been at it for the majority of her 88 years. My mom's been taking me thrifting since I was a wee child of about 7. You get GOOD at sifting through diamonds in the rough when you start at so tender of an age. I have a talent. A gift, even. Everyone wants to go shopping with me, because the Thrifting Gods favor me so.

The itch hit hard again on my way home from my dad's parents' home in Milan. (Milan, Indiana. Not the more-exciting Milan.) Suddenly, I spotted the Goodwill in Batesville. I was powerless to resist her sweet siren call.

Fortunately, I was able to pay for most of the resultant haul with grandparent Christmas money. (Bless you, grandparents of the world!) I also befriended a bargain-conscious duo of elderly ladies, who let me in on their secret: This particular Goodwill sells everything half-price to the over-50 crowd every Sunday. They adopted me as a surrogate niece for the next fifteen minutes, so what would have been a $96 haul was only $48.

Needless to say, this weekend I have made a HELLACIOUS wardrobe upgrade, courtesy of the Batesville Goodwill.

With some aid from Rag-o-Rama in Indy, where I found a sweet pair of Steve Madden snake-printed platform sandals ($16) for next season, and some platform gothic butt-kicking boots ($15) for RIGHT FREAKIN' NOW. Incidentally, they look fairly like the Demonia boots I was about to drop nearly $80 for. Oh, I am a happy girl.

The haul includes:

•  hand-knit cream-colored shawl
• a scarf to match
• two berets in black and oatmeal (You could say I was inspired by Andrea's recent beret-laden hotness)
• a knee-length black sweater-jacket, perfect for layering
• a perfectly-fitting oatmeal jacket for spring
• a divinely soft white New York & Co cowl-neck sweater
• two delicious chunky, angora cardigans in grey and black
• some grey suede flat midcalf boots (Perfectly timed, since my black pair needs replacing)
• a velvet pinstriped J.Crew blazer
• a SWOON-WORTHY silk-velvet Elie Tahari blouse. I saw similar on the Bergdorf-Goodman website for $250.
• The perfect little leather overnight bag for my next weekend trip

A haul of this quality gives you a ridiculous sense of accomplishment. I mean, any fool with a ton of money in the bank can just walk into Saks and grab the "right" brands in the "right" silhouette for the season. The rest of us need to be more resourceful and better at the hunt. What's my point? The point would be that there's no POINT in paying full retail. For anything. Also, I'm available if anybody needs a shopping buddy and/or personal shopper. Because there is nothing like the rush of a hunt like this.

Fearless patterns on Monument Circle

My friend Jared snapped this awesome dude over his lunch break a couple weeks ago. I know, it's a bit late in season for a straw hat, but in spite of the fact it's November, it was about 72 degrees out. So why not milk it?

Just look at that sweater, doesn't it make you yearn for your old Nintendo? Alone, it'd probably look ridiculous, but paired with a khaki blazer, it's downright dapper. Harmonious colors within the contrasting patterns of his pants, striped hatband, and TWO floral scarves keep an air of whimsy within sophistication. (And I LOVE a man who's not afraid of a good floral!)

I tip my own hat to you, sir.