Tip Your Hat
March 24th, 2009
images from Marc Jacobs, Lula, Lover, The Cherry Blossom Girl
I think it’s safe to say that the official hat of this coming spring/summer is the boater! It’s turning up everywhere, from wardrobe_remixers to Lula and Marc Jacobs. There is a neat article about boaters in the new Lula (which I just picked up yesterday), and it includes some history about that style of hat and some talk from designers too. The Marc Jacobs ones (pictured top left) are so cute, sort of crumpled and flat but totally adorable. And EXPENSIVE! They are over $300, which, like most designer stuff, is totally crazy.
But, never fear! There are plenty of non-wallet-breaking boaters to be found. You first best option is to get lucky and find one in a shop, because then you can try it on and you’ll be sure that it fits. If you don’t want to wait until the thrifting gods sent you a magic hat, the most important thing is that you learn your hat size. A lot of the boaters that I’ve seen on ebay include sizes, so it’s very useful to know. So far I haven’t seen any in my size, but maybe I’ll get lucky…
My best tip of advice for finding a boater online is to always assume that the seller doesn’t know what they’re selling. Try searching for “straw hat” or even just “hat” if you have enough time to sift through the listings. Sometimes a seller doesn’t know the official name or style of an item, so it can be harder to find. It’s worth it to look through more listings to find the treasures, which is how I found this hat, reminiscent of the Marc Jacobs ones! I hope it will fit, it’s hard to say… I might have to use a hat pin. If the color doesn’t work, I might try dyeing it or something. They even suggest that in Lula! I think I will be switching out the straw ribbon for a nice grosgrain one, which can also be found on etsy. I’m excited about turning this old vintage hat into my own special item. Because in the end, that’s what it’s all about! Making it your own, so that you really love it.
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15 Comments
Add your own1. leila wylie | March 24th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
These are so cute! Too bad hats look weird on me
2. julie | March 24th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
festooned pontoon on etsy has a lovely boater ALREADY with a grosgrain ribbon! I like your style
3. Josephine | March 24th, 2009 at 7:21 pm
I love the boater look. I was really lucky, in that two days after sseeing and being inspired by the lover collection I just magically found one that was perfect in an op shop! Those are great ebaying tips though- i think you have to be really committed sometimes to find the treasures!
4. olivia | March 24th, 2009 at 8:08 pm
i love straw hats! note to girls on a budget- thrift stores! i find at least one at every community thrift store i go to.
5. Mrs Gorman | March 25th, 2009 at 1:49 am
You’ve just inspired me to watch Picnic at Hanging Rock….again!
I don’t need too much talking into it though. Layers of crisp white cotton, black spindly legs and boaters – perfect!
X
6. Anabela | March 25th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
I love Picnic at Hanging Rock, and I hope you will too! I’m not sure why I love it so much (I’m not THAT into pan flute music). There is a fair amount of over-wrought acting in it, but the story is good and the clothes are amazing.
The ribbon I stuck on my hat is some cheap poly stuff — that millinery grosgrain is lovely!
I also love the hat you found. Perfect!
7. Casey | March 25th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
How fun!! I can’t wait to see the outfits you accessorize with this hat.
I’ve been keeping my eyes out at thrift and antique shops for a bowler, although I really have my heart set on a 40s straw, wide brim sunhat for the summer instead. But I wouldn’t mind having one of these either! 
8. the tilted tulip | March 25th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
Thanks for the tip on finding my hat size. I always find the cutest vintage hats that are just a smidgen too small, so I think this will be useful. Love your blog!
9. april | March 25th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
I am SO into the Marc Jacobs spring line! I’m actually feeling that inspiration to sew my own knock-offs, which I haven’t felt inclined to do in a very long time. Maybe it’s because it’s the same style I was into back in good old 1993 when I used to sew my own designer rip-offs all the time!
I’m also totally hat crazy! AGAIN! I bought two last week and I’m eyeing up two more! Crazy! I wish I hadn’t tossed all my hats before I moved out west
They probably wouldn’t have made the journey without being crushed, though.
10. missWong | March 26th, 2009 at 2:41 am
Yes, boater just seem to pop out everywhere (in a good way)! I love them… I wish I can buy an affordable one here.
11. sisters and dresses | March 26th, 2009 at 5:14 am
Lovely hat!!
12. María | March 26th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
all this makes me think of avonlea… god i hated tha show
13. verhext | March 26th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
I keep thinking about picnic at hanging rock, too, or anne of green gables. this is so my sister in laws perfect style.
straw is super easy to dye! you should try it.
14. clever nettle » Sun&hellip | April 21st, 2009 at 11:13 am
[...] I’ve become a hat person, but it’s true. This is the straw hat I mentioned back in my boater post, I finally got to wear it! The orange straw ribbon makes it a bit harder to match with [...]
15. d'arcy | June 18th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
thought id share, i just found two amazing vintage boaters in a major thrift haul i made on my lunch break today! one is straw with a black bow (which is nearly identical to the MJ one), and the other one is a glossy synthetic creme-colored straw with a creme and tan ribbon! i thought of this entry immediately. ive been craving one since i got this issue of lula, i cant wait to wear them all summer long!
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