London Hat Week 2019 and much more!

I had the privilidge to attend London Hat Week 2019 for the first time this year. I had such great time learning new techniques and meeting new milliner that now I can call my friends! I took 5 classes with world class milliners, attended the Xterrece Hat Show, Dior and the Mary Quant fashion exhibit at the V&A museum. I was also able to attend a few lectures that were organized by LHW and the V&A.

The best part about my trip was meeting new milliners, teachers that I have looked up to and of course Stephen Jones!

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Dior Exhibit at the V&A Museum, London

Spanning 1947 to the present day, this exhibition traces the history and impact of one of the 20th century's most influential couturiers, exploring the enduring influence of the fashion house, and Dior's relationship with Britain. Learn more about this exhibit at https://www.vam.ac.uk.

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London Hat Week 2019 Official Exhibition: ‘The Great Hat Exhibition – World Garden.

Milliners from around the world were invited to apply to showcase hats inspired by nature for thousands of visitors to see. All exhibition hats will incorporate exotic, exquisite, intriguing flowers, plants, or landscape scenes in some way. The exhibition will be set up with a form of themed gardens for London hat lovers to be immersed in a journey across continents and enjoy the wonderful colous and forms of nature captured by the exhibiting milliners. 

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My London Hat Week Workshops:

I took classes with Carole Maher, Ian Bennett, Maor Zabar, Jane Taylor and Dillan Wallwork. I learned how to use thermoplastics, made buntal straw turbans, couture hat techniques, 3-D hats, cabbage feather flowers and more.

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Party time meeting new and old friends!

So nice to see my old Dutch millinery teachers and hang out with new milliners!

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Mary Quant Exhibit and Stephen Jones Dior Lecture:

From miniskirts and hot pants to vibrant tights and makeup, discover how Mary Quant launched a fashion revolution on the British high street, with over 200 garments and accessories, including unseen pieces from the designer's personal archive.

I was so thrilled to meet one of my millinery idiols while in London. This was the highlight and end of my amazing trip!

Stephen Jones: is a leading British milliner based in London, who is considered one of the world's most radical and important milliners of the late 20th and early 21st centuries.[1] He is also one of the most prolific, having created hats for the catwalk shows of many leading couturiers and fashion designers, such as John Galliano at Dior and Vivienne Westwood.

Pleating and Dyeing: Bridget Bailey

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Last month I attend a 2-day Masterclass hosted by Pierre & Pierre and taught by Bridget Bailey Tomlin in The Hague, Holland.  We learned how to two millinery techniques. The first one was the dyeing of silk abaca and sinamay and the second was pleating this material in different directions.

I was amazed on how easy it was to dye the un-stiffined sinamay. It really took the color well and it transformed how the materials looks. Dyeing can add so much depth to your hat embellishments and create a bespoke final product.

Bridget was such a great teacher as we managed to finish everything she had set out for us to do. She took the time and worked individually with all of us. She explained clearly the technical accepts of dyeing (keep a clean work area) and showed us hot to create pleating molds. This class has opened a whole new world of color possibilities for my new hat creation that will never be limited to the colors and materials I purchase.

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“Don’t let your thinking get ahead of your doing always think a little about your process and design and do a little.”

— Bridget Bailey Tomlin

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One piece of advice she gave me was, “Don’t let your thinking get ahead of your doing always think a little about your process/design and do a little.”  Bridget is not afraid of failure and testing her techniques. Failure is a sign that your doing it right.