labricoleuse: (milliner)
[personal profile] labricoleuse
Nearly two years ago, i made a post about a sinamay straw tricorne. The hat has been on display in the millinery studio area ever since, waiting for the perfect show and character to come along, and for a designer to see it and have an "a-ha!" moment.

That has happened on Nicholas Nickleby--costume designer Jan Chambers wanted the hat made over for the character of "Mrs. Crummles," the flamboyant wife of a theatrical impresario. I was thrilled the hat was going to finally make its stage debut, though i never would have foreseen what it would eventually become! This is what it was to begin with:

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The original hat of cream sinamay straw, trimmed with silk organza,
a burnt black ostrich plume and a horsehair cocarde.


And this is what i made it over into:
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The designer requested that the hat be gold, but rather than dyeing and reblocking the sinamay (which there wasn't time for), i sprayed it with a gold floral spray. The crown is covered in a layer of red and black crosswoven silk organza, overlayed with tricolor metallic lace, and the band and binding are of a red and black crosswoven silk taffeta. The hat is trimmed with tricolor brocade ribbon, coq and pheasant feathers in two colors, and a spray of gold berries.

Crazy, huh? I wouldn't recognize it on the street as the same hat if i hadn't made it over myself! (Though honestly, if i saw it on the street, i would have to give its wearer some serious congratulations for the sartorial courage of wearing it around in the world.) However, i can't wait to see it onstage as worn by the fabulous "Mrs. Crummles"!

Date: 2009-11-08 02:13 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ladycelia.livejournal.com
Both versions are really beautiful. I'd wear either version in a heart-beat!

Date: 2009-11-08 05:05 pm (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
Originally beautiful but now WOW! Great redo..

Date: 2009-11-08 11:09 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] purejuice.livejournal.com
this is fabulous, thanks for this and all your groovy posts.

Date: 2009-11-08 11:42 pm (UTC)

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