Spring Hats in Bloom

Hats accented with flowers can be worn with your furs, your tweeds, your tailored town suits, your dinner suits.  They are the perfect escape from winter.

From Vogue 1941, red roses are planted on a black and white striped tilt hat accented with a dramatic siren veil.  From Walter Florell.

Monolithic Studios' film star Madra Lord wears a Sandra Stillwell hat updated with pink tulips.  Suit ensemble is from The Couture Touch.  Bracelet from D.A.E. Originals.  Top This Madra Lord, enhanced with an Integrity articulated body, is from Ashton Drake.

A delightful floral topper adds whimsy to Miss Lord's Town and Country suit.  Jacket with replaced buttons is from Integrity.  Scarf from Ashton Drake.  Hat and gloves are from The Couture Touch.  Spotted in Manhattan Madra Lord is from Jamieshow.

Credits:

January 15, 1941 issue of Vogue magazine from the author's personal collection.

A Felt with Forties Flair

Monolithic Studios' star Gene Marshall along with pal Ivy Jordan debut a stylish new topper that is actually a 2 inch felt craft hat available in black and ready for custom trimming.  The hat's vintage shaping makes it the perfect accessory for 1940's tailored suits.

Gene Marshall

The hat trimmed simply with a narrow black suede band and a dramatic feather.  Jacket from Ashton Drake's Star Wardrobe Collection.  Scarf, earrings, and styling are from The Couture Touch.  Fab Lab craft felt hat is from Jo-Ann Fabrics.

Ivy Jordan

A similar style craft hat is accented with a grosgrain band and floral trim.  Jacket from D.A.E. Originals.  Scarf, earrings, and styling are from The Couture Touch.  Marigold Market black felt top hat is from Hobby Lobby.


"Symphony in G" Gene Marshall, enhanced with an Integrity articulated body, is from Ashton Drake.

"V for Tea" Ivy Jordan is from Integrity.

The 1940's Turban

The turban has been a renowned fashion staple with women for a number of decades.  In the late 1930's milliner Lilly Dache revived the turban elevating it to high fashion prominence.  Carmen Miranda, the Brazilian singer, gave the turban enormous publicity by wearing it festively adorned with fruits, flowers, and feathers.

The turban was available ready to wear or could be wrapped by the customer when she put it on.  They were available in a variety of fabrications and suitable for day or evening wear.  The stars from Monolithic Studios prefer their turbans wrapped by their personal stylist.

Diva Madra Lord goes for drama wearing a turquoise blue turban trimmed with a floral corsage accented with beading.  Top and corsage are from Ashton Drake.  Hat, gauntlet gloves, skirt, belt, and styling are from The Couture Touch.  Pool Pose Madra Lord is from Integrity.

Two illustrations from McCall Patterns showing turbans paired with dresses for a chic daytime look.  Turbans could be cleverly manipulated into an incredible variety of flattering styles.

Large cabbage roses with stems accent Gene Marshall's jewel-tone turban.  Dress and jewels are from Madame Alexander.  Fur drape and purse are from PD Root.  Hat and styling are from The Couture Touch.  Gloves and Miss Marshall are from Ashton Drake.

Miss Marshall in a chic, asymmetrically draped turban.  Jacket from Jamieshow.  Handbag from Sandra Stillwell.  Restyled jewels from Facets by Marcia.  Belt from Integrity.  Hat, gauntlet gloves, scarf, and styling are from The Couture Touch.  Gene Marshall is from Ashton Drake.

Pink tulips are thrust through loops in Loretta Young's cashmere turban by Lilly Dache.  Jewels by Flato.  Photo by Rawlings for Vogue, 1940.

An animal print turban tops Miss Lord's smart suit ensemble punctuated by a pop of color.  Restyled suit is from Integrity.  Fur from PD Root.  Handbag and gloves are from Ashton Drake.  Hat, ascot, belt, brooch, and styling are from The Couture Touch.  Moulin Noire Madra Lord is from Ashton Drake.

Credits:  

Color and Design in Apparel by Bernice G. Chambers, 1942.

February Seasonal Accessorizing

Add a fabric turban in a print or rich jewel-tone solid and match to gloves or scarves.

Monolithic Studios' director Ivy Jordan tops her coat with an animal print turban that coordinates with her embroidered gloves.  In addition she keeps the floral trend, adding a corsage to the bow at her neckline and repeating the flowers on her muff.  Coat and gloves are from Ashton Drake.  Fur muff is from Integrity.  Hat and styling are from The Couture Touch.

Bright flowers and a matching satin bow accent film star Gene Marshall's solid colored turban.  The pink gloves as well as the scarf print match the floral detailing on the hat.  Coat, gloves, and newspaper are from Ashton Drake.  Hat, scarf, belt, and styling are from The Couture Touch.  Miss Marshall's belt bag was made using a Barbie-sized handbag.  The original chain link handle was tucked inside the bag and a new faux leather handle was tacked to the back of the purse.  The belt simply slides through the new handle.

Credits:

Turbans were fashioned from scrunchie ponytail holders.

Lady Director Ivy Jordan (re-coiffed) is from Integrity.

Gene Marshall is from Ashton Drake.