Elaine Mergard's Posts - Learn How To Make Hats Online | Hat Academy Millinery Courses2024-03-28T18:22:17ZElaine Mergardhttps://hatacademy.com/profile/ElaineMergardhttps://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2865485271?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1https://hatacademy.com/profiles/blog/feed?user=3jgqge31amcpv&xn_auth=noHEADLINES COMPETITION WINNERStag:hatacademy.com,2013-08-21:6485913:BlogPost:698042013-08-21T04:30:00.000ZElaine Mergardhttps://hatacademy.com/profile/ElaineMergard
<p class="p1"><strong>Congratulations to everyone who entered the Button Block Competition at <em>Hats Off to Brisbane</em>. We are able to announce the winners.</strong></p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Special Congratulations to Victoria Henderson, Kerry L'Anson and Linda Ford. To view all their Button Block creativity scroll down below.</strong></p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Thank you to our judge <a href="http://hatacademy.com/profile/AoifeKirwan" target="_blank">Aoife Kirwin</a> from…</strong></p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Congratulations to everyone who entered the Button Block Competition at <em>Hats Off to Brisbane</em>. We are able to announce the winners.</strong></p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Special Congratulations to Victoria Henderson, Kerry L'Anson and Linda Ford. To view all their Button Block creativity scroll down below.</strong></p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Thank you to our judge <a href="http://hatacademy.com/profile/AoifeKirwan" target="_blank">Aoife Kirwin</a> from Ireland. </strong></p>
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<p class="p1">Aoife writes...</p>
<p class="p1">"It was very hard to choose from such great entries. Everyone did a great job coming up with imaginative and original pieces however a few did stand out to me for their original concept, overall design, level of skill involved and materials used."</p>
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<p class="p1"><strong>In first place <a href="http://bit.ly/1580mHW" target="_blank">Victoria Henderson</a> with her beige Button Block Headpiece. </strong>"I love her use of hand stitched vintage braid and the chic elegance of the overall design. Sometimes less is more."<br/> <a href="http://hatacademy.com/photo/button-block-headpiece-by-victoria-henderson" target="_self"><img width="600" height="600" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2892215288?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-center"/></a><em>Victoria will receive a <a href="http://hatacademy.com/photo/custom-hatboxes" target="_blank">Lockable Hat Box</a> valued at $330 plus three <a href="http://hatacademy.com/groups/group/list?sort=alphabetical" target="_blank">lessons</a>.</em></p>
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<p class="p1"><strong>In second place <a href="http://bit.ly/1580iI8" target="_blank">Kerry L'anson</a> with her bronze three button headpiece.</strong> "I loved the imaginative way that Kerry used her block, layering three pieces to create an original design."<br/> <a href="http://hatacademy.com/photo/bronze-three-button-block-hat" target="_self"><img width="356" height="600" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2892215412?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p class="p1"><em>Kerry will receive her favourite hat blocks from <a href="http://store.hatacademy.com/category/hat-blocks" target="_blank">Hat Academy Store</a> plus three <a href="http://hatacademy.com/groups/group/list?sort=alphabetical" target="_blank">lessons</a>.<br/> <br/></em></p>
<p class="p1"><strong>In third place <a href="http://bit.ly/RUDdP5" target="_blank">Linda Ford</a> with her Retro Bloom.</strong> "I love the use of leather in millinery and Linda really seems to have employed great skill in using this material both in her base & flower. I also love the way she covered her band with tulle as this helps to grip onto the hair and make the hat more secure."<br/> <a href="http://hatacademy.com/photo/130089-retro-bloom" target="_self"><img width="737" height="396" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2951400891?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-center"/></a><em>Linda will receive a <a href="http://store.hatacademy.com/product/cocktail-hat-block" target="_blank">Cocktail hat block</a> plus three <a href="http://hatacademy.com/groups/group/list?sort=alphabetical" target="_blank">lessons</a>.</em></p>THE SPINDLE: MARGARET GILL - GREAT GATSBY MILLINERYtag:hatacademy.com,2013-07-04:6485913:BlogPost:627192013-07-04T04:30:00.000ZElaine Mergardhttps://hatacademy.com/profile/ElaineMergard
<p class="p1"><strong>Bring together a team of eight multi-talented Australian milliners and what is the result? Fabulous headwear for "The Great Gatsby"! We chat with Sydney milliner, <a href="http://bit.ly/QnalBw" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Margaret Gill</a> – one of the costume milliners, about her once in a lifetime opportunity to fulfil a milliner's dream.</strong></p>
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<p class="p3"><b><em>How wonderful to be involved with the millinery masterpieces for "The Great…</em></b></p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Bring together a team of eight multi-talented Australian milliners and what is the result? Fabulous headwear for "The Great Gatsby"! We chat with Sydney milliner, <a href="http://bit.ly/QnalBw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Margaret Gill</a> – one of the costume milliners, about her once in a lifetime opportunity to fulfil a milliner's dream.</strong></p>
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<p class="p3"><b><em>How wonderful to be involved with the millinery masterpieces for "The Great Gatsby" movie, Margaret. What other movies have you been involved with & in what capacity?</em><br/> <br/></b> My first film was another Baz Luhrmann's, '<em>Australia</em>' also in the headwear department. I then worked on '<em>X-Men Origins, Wolverine</em>' as a seamstress. So for a while I could say 'I only work on Hugh Jackman films', now I can add Leonardo to that! I worked briefly on '<em>Goddess</em>' and '<em>The Wolverine</em>' as a costume maker. The Great Gatsby was my 4th film.<br/> <br/> <br/> <em><b>As a theatrical Milliner do you find this more demanding than fashion millinery & if so why?</b></em></p>
<p class="p1">Yes, theatrical millinery is physically demanding. On a film you work a 50 hour week minimum. I was on Gatsby for five months and also teaching at TAFE on Saturdays, so a very exhausting schedule. Theatrical millinery is very hard on your hands. You usually work with foundation fabrics such as scotch canvas/fosshape and wire to retain the shape and for strength and then the outer fabric, so you are sewing through thick layers plus the majority of this work is by hand. On the Gatsby though, the materials we were using were more 'real', so not as heavy silks, organzas, feathers, jewels etc.<br/> <br/> <br/><br/><em><b>Working in a team to create the Gatsby headwear were you assigned particular pieces or were you able to choose what you wanted to do?</b></em></p>
<p class="p1">Our head of headwear, Rosie Boylan, is very good at knowing her team's strengths and delegates the work accordingly. I was given a lot of the 'featured extra's' pieces. These were extras who were considered part of 'Gatsby's' party themes / styling, e.g. the butterfly and spider webs / fish fin headdresses / mermaids and the dancing twins in the green sequin bug headdresses and baby doll bonnets. The spider web / fish fins and mermaids were inspired by photographs taken by Paul Getty from actual partygoers in the 1920's. The yellow beaded headdresses worn by the dancing twins were made by my colleague Millie Adams and were also inspired by an image from that period.</p>
<p class="p1">Beyond that we were given an idea as to how many 'poor' hats / party pieces / cloches / turbans / men's caps / women's cloth caps etc were needed. The majority of the pieces were created for the parties and the speakeasy. We also had the 'valley of the ashes', the street scenes and the rooftop on the plaza hotel and, Myrtles' apartment scene.</p>
<p class="p1">We were given lots of inspiration, from fashion catalogues of the time, fashion photographs and sketches, story boards, feathers, beads, jewellery and beautiful fabrics. We had a 'bible' of character images / ideas.<br/> <br/> <br/> <em><b>Hat styling & costumes are designed to portray the personality of the character. How has Head of Costume schooled the Millinery team to understand the characters? </b></em></p>
<p class="p1">In the earlier stages Rosie and CM would have detailed discussions about the' look' and personality of the characters. We would often create a few of these ideas for CM to view and give her input.</p>
<p class="p1">The yellow cloche with the three dimensional felt flowers ( worn at Myrtle's apartment ) was made to match the outfit that character was wearing, the flowers were made to complement/match the flowers on her top / skirt. This was a colourful / loud hat for a 'loud and loose' woman.</p>
<p class="p1">Jordan's beautiful grey cloche was made by Rosie and Cheryl, the hatpin was an original Tiffany's. Jordan was a strong character, very at ease with herself, a 'look at me and see if I care ' sort of person... so a striking and elegant, yet strong hat.</p>
<p class="p1">Daisy, in her public persona, I think never really grew up, so her hats were elegant with a 'girl next door' naivety to them. We had a 'bible' which had references to the 'looks' for each of the main cast. Some of these were the actual designs to be made or general character ideas.</p>
<p class="p1"><em><b>How many hats/headpieces were made?</b></em></p>
<p class="p1">Approximately 500!</p>
<p class="p1"><em><b>Of all the pieces you created which was the most challenging technically?</b></em></p>
<p class="p1">The most technically challenging would have to be the butterfly.<br/> <br/> <br/> <em><b>Which is your favourite headwear piece?</b></em></p>
<p class="p1">Several favourites... the butterfly, spiderwebs, and fish fins. I was absolutely in my element here; this was not work!<br/> <br/></p>
<p class="p1"><br/> <em><b>How many milliners were involved in the making of the headwear?</b></em></p>
<p class="p1">There were seven of us for different lengths of time. Rosie, Cheryl and I were there for the entire build. Unfortunately you were only in the credits if you had worked 20 weeks or more. Isobel Hutton, Sonia Bennett, Renata Beslik, Eliza Clark, Millie Adams and of course, Rosie Boylan, Cheryl Rounsefell and myself.<br/> <br/> <br/> <em><b>The head hugging cloche does not suit all especially those with a wide face or large nose. Do you have any tips for some of us who do not have a sweet Daisy shaped face? </b></em></p>
<p class="p1">Yes, I agree the cloche is a hard style to wear. Perhaps an asymmetric brim is the answer, tilting higher to one side. Your hair should also be tucked behind the ears , constrained in some way.<br/> <br/> <br/> <em><b>With so much detail in costume and activity many are going back to view the movie again. How many times have you seen it? </b></em></p>
<p class="p2">I have seen the film four times now and have another two viewings with friends planned. After that I will probably see it once more, to just indulge. The first time you see it, having worked on it, you are looking to see what pieces have made the final cut. As you say it is very busy, especially the party scenes, so at every viewing there is something else to discover!<br/> <br/> <br/> <em><b>At Oaks Day at Eagle Farm the winner was definitely Gatsby styled. Can we expect to see more of this styling going into Royal Ascot & Melbourne Cup styling.</b></em></p>
<p class="p1">I agree that the next few race seasons will be influenced by this film. I think because this period of costume was fairly recent, most of us would have photos of our grandmothers and Aunts wearing this type of headwear and wearing this type of look would not be so foreign an idea to us. The look will probably be more prevalent for the Autumn carnivals.<br/> <br/> <br/> <em><b>Anything else exciting on the drawing board? </b></em></p>
<p class="p1">I have recently finished working on '<em>King Kong, the musical</em>' which opens soon in Melbourne. I am currently working on a Steam Punk show for Nigel Shaw Costumes. The show is called '<em>Life As We Know It</em>' for the P&O cruise line. We made this show last year and due to it's popularity it is being rolled out again, so it will be on two ships. After that... just waiting for the phone to ring.</p>
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<p class="p1"><strong>» Say hello on <a href="http://hatacademy.com/profile/MargaretMaryGill" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Margaret Gill's profile page</a><br/></strong></p>
<p class="p1"><strong>» What did <a href="http://hatacademy.com/forum/topics/what-did-you-love-about-the-great-gatsby-1" target="_self">you love about The Great Gatsby</a></strong></p>
<p class="p1"><strong>» Check out <a href="http://hatacademy.com/photo/albums/the-great-gatsby-hats" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Great Gatsby millinery album</a></strong></p>
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<div id="limk_horizontal_widget_placeholder"></div>FILMING NEW LESSONStag:hatacademy.com,2012-08-21:6485913:BlogPost:164622012-08-21T22:00:00.000ZElaine Mergardhttps://hatacademy.com/profile/ElaineMergard
<p>Another hard day in the office working on filming new fascinator and headpiece lessons. Hair done, nails and makeup completed, lights camera action... coffee break!</p>
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<p>Another hard day in the office working on filming new fascinator and headpiece lessons. Hair done, nails and makeup completed, lights camera action... coffee break!</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://hatacademy.com/groups/group/list?sort=alphabetical"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3002187947?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a></p>
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<div class="linkwithin_div"></div>Hats off to London Hatwalktag:hatacademy.com,2012-07-30:6485913:BlogPost:121592012-07-30T11:00:00.000ZElaine Mergardhttps://hatacademy.com/profile/ElaineMergard
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Hatwalk" rel="noopener" target="_blank"></a><strong>Today, as a special one off, Londoners and visitors are waking up to the capital’s most iconic</strong> <strong>statues reimagined, adorned with breathtaking, bespoke headwear that celebrates the best of</strong> <strong>British millinery talent.</strong></p>
<p><br></br> As part of the visual spectacular that is HATWALK, commissioned by the Mayor of London, in partnership with BT, Grazia magazine, the…</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Hatwalk" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a><strong>Today, as a special one off, Londoners and visitors are waking up to the capital’s most iconic</strong> <strong>statues reimagined, adorned with breathtaking, bespoke headwear that celebrates the best of</strong> <strong>British millinery talent.</strong></p>
<p><br/> As part of the visual spectacular that is HATWALK, commissioned by the Mayor of London, in partnership with BT, Grazia magazine, the British Fashion Council and the London 2012 Festival, Trafalgar Square’s most famous resident, Admiral Lord Nelson, gets a new hat for the first time in 200 years.</p>
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<p>Lock & Co, the oldest hatters in London, established in 1676, and famed for making Nelson’s original bicorn hat, has created an updated version complete with Olympic torch as a nod to a summer like no other in this city. Nelson is one of 20 well-known statues from William Shakespeare to Winston Churchill, currently starring in the millinery extravaganza across the city.<br/> <br/> Curated by world renowned British milliners, Stephen Jones and Philip Treacy; HATWALK<br/> brings together 21 emerging and established designers to showcase British millinery at its<br/> very best. Culminating in Trafalgar Square, the project celebrates London’s standing as a<br/> global capital of millinery, but also emphasises the city’s important and rich heritage by<br/> bringing these illustrious but sometimes overlooked statues to life in new exciting ways.<br/> Once the fantastic display has finished all of the hats will be auctioned off to raise money for<br/> the Mayor's Fund for good causes.<br/> <br/> HATWALK is part of Surprises, which sees pop-up performances and once in a lifetime<br/> experiences spring up at locations both familiar and unusual across London throughout this<br/> summer like no other. Other Surprises include SACRILEGE – a life-sized inflatable replica<br/> of Stonehenge by Turner Prize-winning artist Jeremy Deller currently touring throughout<br/> London and pop up Shakespeare from the Globe Theatre. The Mayor of London has<br/> commissioned these free cultural events and activities across the capital, as part of Mayor of<br/> London Presents, to add to the excitement of the Games and make Londoners and visitors<br/> look at and experience the city in a different way.<br/> <br/> Back in Trafalgar Square, Nelson’s neighbours have also been given a makeover. Philip<br/> Treacy, best known for his catwalk collaborations with Alexander McQueen and design for<br/> Princess Beatrice at last year’s Royal Wedding at Westminster Abbey has crowned the<br/> British General Sir Henry Havelock with a headpiece inspired by the juxtaposition between<br/> old and new. Whilst across the square, millinery great Stephen Jones, famous for<br/> collaborating with international fashion houses including Versace and Jean Paul Gaultier has<br/> restyled King George IV with a golden-domed design inspired by the luxurious Brighton<br/> Pavilion.</p>
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<p><br/> Other designers involved in HATWALK include Ian Bennett, who has most recently worked<br/> with Angela Kelly MVO, Senior Dresser to Her Majesty The Queen on designs for Her<br/> Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee Tour. Ian has transformed the Duke of Wellington standing<br/> outside the Bank of England with a sculptural creation complete with trademark feathers.<br/> Inspired by the Duke’s original bicorn hat, Ian’s creation is proudly emblazoned with the<br/> Union Jack in homage to Britain in this monumental year.<br/> <br/> Former millinery favourite of the Princess of Wales, John Boyd is responsible for fashioning<br/> a new headpiece for Franklin D. Roosevelt on Bond Street. Whilst Shirley Hex, who not only<br/> taught Philip Treacy, Stephen Jones and Ian Bennett their crafts, but has also made hats for<br/> Her Majesty The Queen has dressed George Ehrlich’s The Young Lovers statue near St.<br/> Paul's Cathedral as part of HATWALK.<br/> <br/> HATWALK has also been designed to champion emerging talent. Sophie Beale, winner of<br/> HAT FACTOR – Grazia magazine’s search to find a breakout new millinery star – has<br/> designed a piece for British general Sir Charles Napier who also resides in Trafalgar Square.<br/> Sophie’s creation takes as its muse the history dotted around the Square as well as historic<br/> London and the aging rooftops across the city.<br/> <br/> The art of millinery is one of the great British crafts and has undergone resurgence in recent<br/> years, as British designers; including Philip Treacy and Stephen Jones continue to dominate<br/> the catwalks on a global scale. This project provides a unique opportunity to showcase<br/> Britain’s contribution to millinery.</p>
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<p><br/> Other must-see HATWALK creations springing up throughout the capital include:<br/> • House of Flora’s shards of neon Perspex sat atop the Duke of Wellington near Hyde<br/> Park.<br/> • William Chambers’ ‘A Red Red Rose’ headpiece for Robert Burns (inspired by his<br/> famous poem of the same name) on Victoria Embankment<br/> • Noel Stewart’s fun and flamboyantly coloured turban for the dandy, Beau Brummel,<br/> in Jermyn Street<br/> <br/> British milliner, Stephen Jones says, “I am thrilled to be able to showcase British Millinery<br/> during the year of the Olympics in London. Britain has long been credited as being the centre<br/> of the modern millinery world and these hats are the work of our most celebrated and inspired<br/> creators.”<br/> <br/> More information on HATWALK and the other amazing cultural treats taking place this<br/> summer please visit <a href="http://www.molpresents/hatwalk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.molpresents/hatwalk</a>. HATWALK gives a cultural tour of some of<br/> the city’s most iconic landmarks and statues, with a special map produced by Grazia<br/> magazine. For exclusive behind-the-scenes stories and details of how HATWALK got off the<br/> ground visit <a href="http://www.graziadaily.co.uk/hatwalk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.graziadaily.co.uk/hatwalk</a>, where you will also be able download the<br/> HATWALK map.<br/> <br/> Throughout the Games the public will also be able to see the complete collection of all the<br/> hats – life-sized copies of the headwear on the statues – hosted by BT and Grazia magazine<br/> in BT House at BT London Live between the 30th July – 12th August in London’s Hyde<br/> Park. On 31st July Grazia magazine and BT are also hosting a fashion event in BT House,<br/> where Grazia’s Style Director, Paula Reed and HATWALK curators Philip Treacy and<br/> Stephen Jones will be holding a fashion talk about the project. Visit <a href="http://www.btlondonlive.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.btlondonlive.com</a><br/> for information.</p>
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<div class="linkwithin_div"></div>Cinema VINTAGE hatstag:hatacademy.com,2012-06-19:6485913:BlogPost:54322012-06-19T06:30:00.000ZElaine Mergardhttps://hatacademy.com/profile/ElaineMergard
<p><a href="http://hatacademy.com/profiles/blogs/cinema-vintage-hats" target="_self"><br></br></a><strong>The 1930's were the "Golden Age of Hollywood" as cinema moved from silent movies to colour and sound. Amazingly this transition was taking place during the Great depression of the early 30's.</strong></p>
<p>Actresses such as Claudia Colbert, Vivien Leigh, Myrna Loy and Greer Garson all appeared on screen as glamorous ladies in a world far removed from the day to day realities of the early…</p>
<p><a href="http://hatacademy.com/profiles/blogs/cinema-vintage-hats" target="_self"><br/></a><strong>The 1930's were the "Golden Age of Hollywood" as cinema moved from silent movies to colour and sound. Amazingly this transition was taking place during the Great depression of the early 30's.</strong></p>
<p>Actresses such as Claudia Colbert, Vivien Leigh, Myrna Loy and Greer Garson all appeared on screen as glamorous ladies in a world far removed from the day to day realities of the early 30's. The legacy of these old movies is a record of the fashion of that era, including <a href="http://www.acertaincinema.com/browse/gallery/the-milliners-art/?p1=1&p2=1&p3=1&p4=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hat styles</a>.<br/> <br/> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YOlHZysKEVU?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0"></iframe>
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<p><strong>Find more in the vintage <a href="http://hatacademy.com/forum/categories/vintage-millinery/listForCategory" target="_self">hats forum</a></strong></p>
<div class="linkwithin_div"></div>Florals millinery returntag:hatacademy.com,2012-06-19:6485913:BlogPost:54292012-06-19T06:00:00.000ZElaine Mergardhttps://hatacademy.com/profile/ElaineMergard
<p><a href="http://hatacademy.com/profiles/blogs/florals-millinery-return" target="_self"><img class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3002180656?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="545"></img></a> <br></br> <strong>When was the last time someone special in your life gave you a bunch of flowers? Women love flowers - guys if you want to conquer her heart this you need to know. What a better way to express your love of flowers but by wearing them.</strong></p>
<p>Yes Florals are back- in fabric print, jewellery and as embellishments for Hats and Headpieces. For almost a decade feathers &…</p>
<p><a href="http://hatacademy.com/profiles/blogs/florals-millinery-return" target="_self"><img width="545" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3002180656?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="545" class="align-center"/></a><br/> <strong>When was the last time someone special in your life gave you a bunch of flowers? Women love flowers - guys if you want to conquer her heart this you need to know. What a better way to express your love of flowers but by wearing them.</strong></p>
<p>Yes Florals are back- in fabric print, jewellery and as embellishments for Hats and Headpieces. For almost a decade feathers & spike trend has dominated hat trims but with glam look of 40/50s very much in vogue there is a huge return to flower trims. The Dior Rose was one of 1950s icons. Keep an eye on <a href="http://hatacademy.com/profiles/blogs/the-royal-ascot" target="_self">Royal Ascot</a> this year. The impact is totally feminine with the focus of a feature flower.</p>
<p>These flowers are about to take on a new look on Hatinators & Headpieces. I will post when complete.</p>
<div class="linkwithin_div"></div>Fedoras returntag:hatacademy.com,2012-04-26:6485913:BlogPost:34052012-04-26T01:00:00.000ZElaine Mergardhttps://hatacademy.com/profile/ElaineMergard
<p><a href="http://hatacademy.ning.com/profiles/blogs/fedoras-return" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3002182367?profile=original" width="200"></img></a> <strong>Milan Fashion Week 2012. Giorgio Armani adds Fedoras to the Catwalk. It was hats, hats and more hats at the Giorgio Armani's runway show at 2012 Milan Fashion Week.</strong><br></br> <br></br> Fedora-style hats were paired with almost everything and were worn in a slightly tilted manner to give them a sexy slant.The Brims were wider than winter styling and some tilted up one side. The collection…</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://hatacademy.ning.com/profiles/blogs/fedoras-return"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3002182367?profile=original" width="200"/></a><strong>Milan Fashion Week 2012. Giorgio Armani adds Fedoras to the Catwalk. It was hats, hats and more hats at the Giorgio Armani's runway show at 2012 Milan Fashion Week.</strong><br/> <br/> Fedora-style hats were paired with almost everything and were worn in a slightly tilted manner to give them a sexy slant.The Brims were wider than winter styling and some tilted up one side. The collection was an interesting combination of modern cuts, vibrant shades and sleek trousers.<br/> <br/> The show started with gray trouser suits that were matched with very cool fedoras."The look is rockabilly, reflecting a fun, bad-girl attitude," the AFP quoted the Armani team saying. "But the brand's mix of masculine clothes with feminine colored prints in oranges, fuchsias and reds received a mixed reaction in the audience."Another highlight of the show was black Bermuda shorts paired with bright blouses and shirts with shimmering sequined jackets. The Italian designer also used large taffeta roses.</p>
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<br/> Keep these colours in mind for Down Under September Spring Racing Carnival. Fedora Blocks available in Hat Academy Store.</p>
<p><strong>What are your thoughts on Fedoras? › <a href="http://hatacademy.ning.com/forum/topics/fedora" target="_self">Share here</a></strong></p>
<div class="linkwithin_div"></div>Panama Hatstag:hatacademy.com,2012-04-26:6485913:BlogPost:31642012-04-26T00:30:00.000ZElaine Mergardhttps://hatacademy.com/profile/ElaineMergard
<p><a href="http://hatacademy.ning.com/profiles/blogs/panama-hats" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3002180149?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="200"></img></a> <strong>Panama Hats are not as popular as they were in the 1950/60 era but they are still hand made in the Traditional Fashion. We holidayed at Cancun on the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico in 2007 and I was searching for basic panama hoods to bring home. Obviously no Tourist Stop-overs supply such but now know Becal is the Hat Capital of Mexico.</strong> <br></br> <br></br> We saw Toquilla plants growing &…</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://hatacademy.ning.com/profiles/blogs/panama-hats"><img width="200" class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3002180149?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="200"/></a><strong>Panama Hats are not as popular as they were in the 1950/60 era but they are still hand made in the Traditional Fashion. We holidayed at Cancun on the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico in 2007 and I was searching for basic panama hoods to bring home. Obviously no Tourist Stop-overs supply such but now know Becal is the Hat Capital of Mexico.</strong> <br/> <br/> We saw Toquilla plants growing & thought this was for extracting the Juice for drinks offered in every hotel. The fibre from these plants is as strong & fine as South American Panamas. Descendants of the Maya climb down into moist caverns and weave these hats as in the caves the straw is more flexible and does not crack. </p>
<p>Watch this clip and you will appreciate the weavers skill. A Hat Sculpture alias "The Big Hat" is positioned in the Town square.</p>
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<p>Although I have not made a panama hat recently they are always the Choice for a smart Casual hat especially for those who want full sun cover in our Tropical Climate. Instructions on Blocking included in upcoming Lesson about using Pari-sisals.</p>
<div class="linkwithin_div"></div>Vintage styletag:hatacademy.com,2012-04-25:6485913:BlogPost:30722012-04-25T23:30:00.000ZElaine Mergardhttps://hatacademy.com/profile/ElaineMergard
<p><a href="http://hatacademy.ning.com/profiles/blogs/vintage-style" target="_self"><br></br></a><strong>Vintage 1950s Hat Styles were worn by movie star Doris Day -a fun loving Actress as her movies were often romantic comedies. Most of these hats are made from Swiss Straw excluding the Cloche felt Hat</strong>.</p>
<p>All the hats sat up on the head whereas today they sit down closer to the face and very often forward on brow. Have a browse at her most famous onscreen hats…</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://hatacademy.ning.com/profiles/blogs/vintage-style"><br/></a><strong>Vintage 1950s Hat Styles were worn by movie star Doris Day -a fun loving Actress as her movies were often romantic comedies. Most of these hats are made from Swiss Straw excluding the Cloche felt Hat</strong>.</p>
<p>All the hats sat up on the head whereas today they sit down closer to the face and very often forward on brow. Have a browse at her most famous onscreen hats <a href="http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com.au/2011/09/vintage-hats-and-doris-day.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. Creating Swiss Straw hats and Cocktails will be included in Hat Academy Lessons soon. </p>
<p><strong>What do you love about vintage hats? › <a href="http://hatacademy.ning.com/forum/categories/vintage-millinery/listForCategory" target="_self">Discuss here</a></strong></p>
<div class="linkwithin_div"></div>Felt Hat makingtag:hatacademy.com,2012-04-25:6485913:BlogPost:30702012-04-25T23:00:00.000ZElaine Mergardhttps://hatacademy.com/profile/ElaineMergard
<p><a href="https://hatacademy.ning.com/profiles/blogs/felt-hat-making" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3002180548?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="200"></img></a> <strong>Felt Hat making is one of my Favourites but living in Sub Tropical Australia limits the demand. I love how steaming the felt allows it to become as pliable as children's Play dough.This is because Felt is a mass of wool and/or fur. It is not woven so it has no resistance to pull & push techniques. The Felt Hood in unblocked form has been pressed and manipulated in a centuries-old…</strong></p>
<p><a target="_self" href="https://hatacademy.ning.com/profiles/blogs/felt-hat-making"><img width="200" class="align-left" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3002180548?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="200"/></a><strong>Felt Hat making is one of my Favourites but living in Sub Tropical Australia limits the demand. I love how steaming the felt allows it to become as pliable as children's Play dough.This is because Felt is a mass of wool and/or fur. It is not woven so it has no resistance to pull & push techniques. The Felt Hood in unblocked form has been pressed and manipulated in a centuries-old process using heat, water, and pressure to create the strongest, smoothest, most water-resistant natural fabric known.</strong><br/> <br/>
Legends abound with regard to its origin. Some claim that St. Clement (the patron saint of felt hat makers) discovered felt when, as a wandering monk, he filled his sandals with flax fibers to protect his feet. The moisture and pressure from pounding feet compressed the fibers into crude, though comfortable felt. Others suggest that Native Americans or ancient Egyptians discovered felt by way of fur lined moccasins or camel hair falling into sandals.<br/>
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In fact, none of these "firsts" is first as scraps of felt have survived since an era thousands of years ago, making it the oldest form on cloth. One theory postulates that felt was "discovered" many times and in many parts of the world because its popularity has risen when societies have become poor, cold, and agrarian. As each society became more urban and advanced, felt making subsided or disappeared. <strong>Enjoy Working with Felt in <a href="http://hatacademy.ning.com/groups/group/search?q=felt" target="_self">Lessons 19 & 20</a>.</strong></p>
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