Wanna take your outfit to the next level and achieve a true sense of originality? Just add a great hat.

{image sources: 1. twentythirtyforty.net; 2. Streetpeeper; 3. Easy Fashion; 4. Vanessa Jackman; 5. Vanessa Jackman; 6. The Sartorialist; 7. ModernHepburn (original source unknown); 8. Vanessa Jackman; 9. The Locals}

SInce the Royal wedding, there’s been a lot of talk about hats. Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE hats. At the last Modern Vintage show in Chicago I bought 5, I think.

So how happy was I to open up the latest issue of Numéro and see…

wait for it…

Hats!

Hailey Clauson sporting chappeaus by the likes of Phillip Treacy and Hermes; and gigantic, beautiful and perfect hair by Duffy. Now that’s how you style a hat!

Framed and hanging on my wall, please. And look at that HAIR!

Goood hat.

These editorials are always so much better in print. They’re like art. You should definitely get yourself a Numero #123 and look at these babies up close and personal.

{Memory Motel from Numéro Magazine #123, photography by Greg Kadel, styling by Patti Wilson (asst to Taylor Kim — it’s in French and I’m confused!), make-up by Mariel Barrera, hair by Duffy; hats by: Hermes, Phillip Treacy and Heather Huey}

This actually started as a turban post (I’m kind of obsessed right now), but quickly turned into a Yestadt Millinery post. I’ve blogged about Yestadt before, but hadn’t visited their site in a while. Just absolutely loving what they’re doing for Spring11. And now there are actually TWO turbans calling my name. Go figure.

Mmm, so need this for summer. (Can't believe I'm thinking about summer already!)

and their headbands are so adorable, too…

Now if only I could figure out how to rock a veil in my day-to-day life

To see the Spring 11 collection in its entirety, as well as the goodies from Fall 10, visit yestadtmillinery.com

Last week renowned milliner, Philip Treacy, was in town for a personal appearance at Neiman Marcus on Michigan Avenue. As Philip would agree, Neimans is in the business of glamour.  And so is he, so it was the perfect match.

There’s no mistake about it, the man loves glamour. And he truly believes in glamour in your everyday life. He loves hats and admits that, no matter how the chips may have fallen, he wouldn’t have ended up doing anything else.

A piece from Treacy's Spring10 collection

Well, I love hats and I love glamour and to sit down with him was beyond amazing. To try and write about it is actually a little surreal. The whole experience was just… Well, I described it on Twitter as “maybe the most amazing day of my life.” We even tried on some hats!

Now I just have to figure out how to get my hands on one. Hmmm. Anyway…

Of course I asked him about all the current things happening in his life. 

We talked about Lady Gaga. She has indeed applied to be his intern and will have to go through the same process as any other prospective intern. A process which Treacy describes as “pretty rigorous.” Basically, if she can sew and she’s good enough, she’s in; if she can’t, she’s out. And Philip makes a point to let me know that she is quite serious about it. It’ll be interesting to see what happens. 

And Sarah Jessica Parker? Another SATC premiere hat???

At the Sex and the City premiere in a custom Treacy creation. Look at her work that hat. So good.

Yes! He is probably, literally, putting the finishing touches on it as I type this. What will it look like? Well, he wouldn’t say. Here’s what he did say:

Well, she does like a choice… Probably I will see her. And then we’ll decide what the hat is. And then I’ll have to make it overnight.

Can’t wait to see it!!!!!

And I was really curious about the shoes he did for Valentino. 

Although a seemingly natural progression to move into other areas of accessory design, I was curious why. He told me that the only reason he did it was because [the Valentino team] asked him to. If someone asks him again, we might see more. Here’s what he had to say about the differences between hat design and shoe design:

It’s still a shape.  And it’s a point of view. You can adapt your aesthetic to anything because hats are about shape and function and form, and so is everything else. 

It’s interesting to hear him talk about form and function and glamour all at the same time. I think many women would consider function and glamour to be mutually exclusive. But Philip most certainly disagrees.

Glamour is a function. Women are becoming less timid… It’s about not conforming. Hats were the conformist’s accessory and now they’re accessories of rebellion. Hats are fun, really. Whether you’re the wearer or the observer, it’s entertainment. It’s all entertainment.

[Women] don’t grimace when they come and try a hat on. They may not want to try a hat on, but then you can sort of surprise them or amaze them or shock them. It certainly brings out a reaction.

And his clients are certainly those who like to elicit a reaction. As he says,

I make hats for the most interesting cross-section of glamourous people in the world, from Prince Charles’ wife to Lady Gaga, from Marilyn Manson to Elizabeth Taylor… There’s something that runs through the minds of all of them. They’re all… Interesting people wear hats.

And interesting people make hats. And he has some interesting opinions, too. His favorite Oscar look ever?

Cher in Bob Mackie. After talking to him, it makes perfect sense that he would love this. This look brought about a discussion about Hollywood dressing. Obviously, Treacy is a big fan of old Hollywood glamour; he is most definitely not a fan of the Hollywood stylist.

I’m not really interested in that kind of boob-tube induced, spaghetti strap, Hollywood dressing. I don’t find that stylish. They all look the same to me… Stylists have ruined [the business]. They make everyone look the same and they make the artists paranoid about not looking the same.

Interestingly enough, while searching for the above Cher image I came across an interview with Bob Mackie from a couple of years ago, and he uttered some very similar sentiments. Needless to say, I did not mention that I am a stylist and that Arlene and I often have a fear that all the women in Chicago will be running around looking like us!

So with all the royalty and celebrities and iconic designers that he’s created hats for, is there one that stands out as his favorite?

It’s always the next hat you’re going to make. So my favorite hat’s going to be Sarah Jessica Parker’s hat for the premiere.

And I can’t wait to see it and his favorite after that. I’m certain he will go on to create many, many memorable and stunning works of art and, hand to God, I will own one someday. He is a master of his craft, an artist of the highest degree, and I’m so appreciative of the time he gave to me and the talent and gift he shares with the world. Thank you, Philip Treacy.

Here’s to glamour! Clink!

SJP image via Daily Mail, Valentino runway image via Style.com, Cher image via google images

Through our dear friend, David (proprietor of one of our all-time favorite Chicago stores, Hazel), we have discovered a new love: Molly Yestadt and her beautiful hats. David saw the line recently in New York and was instantly smitten. Knowing that the line wasn’t the perfect fit for his store, David is sort of on a mission  to find it a loving, appreciative and appropriate home — basically, someone who can share his love of these gorgeous works of art, but also sell them. To this end, he practically chased me down the street to give me the Yestadt Millinery lookbook and linesheets. He couldn’t stop gushing about the beauty and workmanship of each individual piece — Molly hand-blocks every single hat (which basically means that each hat is a like a little one-of-a-kind hat sculpture). With headgear like this, I can’t say I blame him for his enthusiasm. 

I love a hat – so much – so it is very refreshing for me to see someone out there so dedicated and passionate about making hats and keeping them current. I first fell in love with her hats, but then, after visiting her website, I kind of fell in love with Molly. 

Her blog totally sucked me in. It is filled with all things hat. From behind-the-scenes to old Hollywood to new Hollywood to the runway and absolutely everything in between, I am a devotee for sure. 

Long live Yestadt Millinery and long live the Hat!

all images lovingly and respectfully borrowed from yestadtmillinery.com