Hats Hats Hats

While living in London, I developed a huge millinery crush. And when I returned to the city a few weeks ago, I absolutely loved revisiting a few of my favorite hat haunts.

At the V&A, although most of its collection is currently in storage while Room 40 is under renovation, I managed to view a few pieces crafted by the incomparable Philip Treacy -- part of the much-lauded 2009 Hats exhibition (thankfully documented for posterity in this fabulous book)

The salon upstairs at Lock & Co. in St. James is a favorite with the Duchess of Cambridge.  While there, I was fitted by Sylvia Fletcher herself for one of her Hat-a-porter designs.

And Atelier Millinery is a wonderful little haven just off Carnaby Street, a stone's throw from Liberty. Though a tiny space, it is full of wonderful sinamays, embellishments, and other millinery supplies. But Atelier is also chock full of hats for immediate purchase. Tina Giuntini, one of Atelier's instructors, was helping a pair of costumers seeking the perfect period toppers for a movie currently shooting near London when I arrived. She's an absolute font of information. Whether you're looking for help finding the perfect feather or crafting an amazing pillbox, she's the girl!

Sailor Rose

Mom has a friend who creates magical scarves and sells them at the Brooklyn Women's Exchange, and it was there we discovered Sailor Rose - amazing blouses crafted in America from Liberty of London's iconic Tana Lawn fabrics.

As they describe it themselves... This collection (is) inspired by the tradition of improvising and by clothes that might have started as something else; dresses made of feed sacks, a parent’s shirt, pillowcases or bedspreads. Jumpers with rickrack and threadbare cotton shifts. Jeans with fabric added on the hem, and skirts made of pants. Clothes that are just as beautiful when worn by the third child as by the first. Beautiful dresses meant to be played in – that look as good freshly ironed as rumpled. My hope is that our grandchildren might come across these clothes in an attic or thrift store one day and be inspired to use them again, or turn them into something new.

They clean up beautifully in a front loader's hand wash cycle and to maintain the perfect bit of rumple, just hang dry & wear.  Take it from me, once you wear one you'll want to possess these sweet peasant blouses in every print available.

Upper Class

Arrived at 7:30 a.m. after an Ambien-induced slumber & too-early wake-up from Bob the steward (Bob thought I'd ordered breakfast but I hadn't, thinking the additional 90 minutes of sleep would be nice. Sigh.)  No matter, can I just say how much I adore the full-flat beds on Virgin Atlantic?

After breezing through customs @ Heathrow, a fabulous cabbie named Nick drove west to Isle of Dogs, my home away from home thru year-end. (Love those spacious, clean London dial-a-cabs!) After a quick unpack (and successful destruction of 2 converters), I headed out to Canary Wharf (surprisingly populated for a financial district Saturday). My first find was The Parlour, a beautiful-beyond-words gastro-pub which, I am certain, will become my 'local'. Dave the bartender, who told me to shout for him whenever bar was crowded and I needed a pint (he's going to regret that), let me in before opening to take snaps.

Odds are you'll find me there tomorrow morning buried behind the Sunday Times, tucking into a plate of Boiled Eggs & Buttered Toast Fingers. Then I'm headed here, for some new power cords.

Cheers.

What's So Fabulous About London?

{the screening room @ Covent Garden Hotel}

{The Children's Hour with Knightley & Moss coming to the West End}

{redundant phone booths}

{Paul Smith}

{5th floor bar @ Harvey Nichols}

{taxis}

{Rupert Penry-Jones}

[Green Butlers @ the new Savoy}

{January sales @ liberty & co.}

Not necessarily in that order

Sweet Liberty

Not a huge lover of color, I was happy to find a few black & white pieces at Target's Liberty of London launch. I'm not sure where I'll use the lampshades & drinks tray, but due to absolutely brilliant marketing the whole thing seemed like some sort of strange historically significant decor event that could not be missed.

Thrift = Style

Make Do and Mend, the iconic guide to thrift first published in 1943, appeared in the UK at a time when both food & clothing were being rationed. While we don't seem to be headed there, the current economic outlook does appear to have led to a newfound appreciation for the 'home arts'. With an interesting impact on what's in Vogue. Literally.

According to the May issue of British Vogue, Liberty of London has re-opened the doors to its sewing school. Liberty Stitch is offering full day workshops in sewing, knitting, crochet & 'patchwork'. 

And Smythson of Bond Street, a luxury purveyor of leather goods owned by (among others) a banker from Goldman Sachs, has featured a 'Sewing Box'* in its newly launched Peppermint Collection. 

Interesting to note that the pale mint, ostrich-embossed calf leather box will likely retail for > $1,000US  -- a price that's a bit more ironic than iconic.

{*also via Style Court)