Tuesday, January 17, 2012

On the Hat Hunt

Like sooo many of the rest of you, I am sooo enjoying Downton Abbey.

And the Edwardian costumes with all the beading and feathers and lace...well....it's worth the watch just for that...


Except...the writing just happens to be fabulous too and Maggie Smith...well, enough said. It's Dame Maggie Smith and nobody delivers a one-liner like her! Check out these 10 Ten Maggie Moments if you need a smile.

But the hats! LOVE them. (I found this post where you can see what I mean about ALL the hats!)

There have been some real stunners but this simple top hat that Mary wore riding did its job. She couldn't have looked more like the lady of the estate than in this hat riding that amazing horse...


But I digress.

There's one hat in particular that I would love to hunt down...to have...or I just might have to make it...And I just saw it on Episode 2, Season 2 this past Sunday night (you folks in the UK are a season ahead!)...


It looks like it may be crazy quilted underneath...

And even if it's not, it's still awesome.

Anybody know where I might get one?

30 comments:

Ati said...

Ohh, I like Downton Abbey too.
Unfortunately I missed the last two episodes when we didn't have electricity with Christmas and the 3 days after. Those clothes are fabulous! That is one thing the BBC can, make great plays with great costumes!

Laurie said...

OH my goodness, you are reading my mind. I was just in love with that hat when I saw Sybil wearing it and I was completely distracted by it during that entire scene. I kept wondering how it could have been contemporary to that time: why would a lady be wearing a hat with a crazy quilted inside? Doesn't that seem like it would be too much of a novelty for a lady? I am intrigued! You must let us know if you find one! I love that show so much! I am planning to blog about it, too!

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

EVERYBODY is talking about this series. I haven't seen it!! Where the heck have I been. I would be glued to it. I'm going to check out ON DEMAND when I get home.

I'm with you on the hats. I LOVE hats and wear them all the time, but mostly brimmed hats, embellished with an antique pin from ones I have collected over the years. I could look at and try on hats all day long. I can actually remember when department stores commonly had a millinary department.

Oh, Susan!! Your post has me excited ~lol~
xx, Carol

(Of course, being raised Catholic, I HAD to have a hat on when we went to church.)

http://thankfullga447 said...

I am enjoying this series and the acting of all the characters are just super. I was in London and I got to see one of the programs ahead of time. Very interesting.

Anonymous said...

I am reading a book about the REAL Downton Abbey called Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey. During the time of this show, Highclere was owned by the 5th Earl of Carnorvan. Yes, he of King Tut fame. Almina, his wife, was the illegitimate daughter of a Rothschild. True, not fiction. Very good book! Needless to say, they had a very full life. She turned Highclere into a hospital during WWI.

FLOWER FRIEND said...

I also love the series Susan and I can't wait to find out what happens next. I'm in the UK so I don't know how far along you are with the storyline. As for the costumes, gorgeous. I have tickets for an exhibition that includes some of the costumes coming up soon.If your hat is there I will find out what I can.

Kim

Sheila said...

Ooooh. I love the hats on the right where you usually put the quotes. I haven't seen Downtown Abbey, but I'm a big fan of Dame Maggie. She rocks!

I could totally see you making that. Who needs a fascinator, when you've got all kinds of fun going on underneath? (Now, is that just me, or did anyone else make a leap to lingerie? Didn't mean to go there.) ;)

LisaBelle said...

How funny! I don't normally pay much attention to accessories, but I lusted over this hat too!

Catherine said...

Ooohhhh....love that hat too ~ how fun!!

Mary Corbet said...

LOL! Hi, Susan! I noticed the hat, too!! It, and all the rest of the costumes. I think you'll have to make the hat. DO!!!

Yes, Maggie Smith makes the show, especially in the Christmas special. I'm afraid I cheated ... I bought my copies from the UK (out much sooner) Want some spoilers? >:-)

It's one of those "will watch again" (and probably again) series. Every time a relative comes to visit, I plug them into the whole collection!

Good luck on the hat hunt!

MC

BamaCarol said...

I noticed that hat too when watching it Sunday night. And I always gasp at the beautiful clothes they have on. I hope you find your hat and show it to us.

Jane said...

Hi Susan, glad you're enjoying Downton, it's going down a storm here as well. A few of us Japanese embroiderers in the uk are exhibiting here http://www.ichf.co.uk/creativestitches/ in a few weeks. The organisers of the show have managed to get some of the Downton costumes to be on display. Sadly I don't think they are at Aintree where we are going :-( but if I discover otherwise I'll get pictures.
Thi is the link for Highclere Castle www.highclerecastle.co.uk

Roberta Warshaw said...

Ha! Oh Maggie Smith. She is too funny, isn't she? I loved her comment about the wig wam........she cracks me up.

Lorraine said...

I so agree, the hats are gorgeous but I adore the costumes - all that beading - luscious. Enjoying all the episodes.....

Cathi said...

The hats, the costumes, the actors, the setting -- everything about Downton Abbey is fabulous.
That hat is intriguing - I wonder if there's a spin-off industry going selling replicas of some of the hats that we're seeing on the show.

Unknown said...

I can see how you love the one hat but I was immediately drawn to the other- a steampunk dream!

chasbatte said...

Hi from your professional milliner friend, also of Audrey hairspray fame). That hat is indeed a favorite of many ladies because it is so flattering to the face. This hat could be an antique, but it also looks like it could have been made for the series. It looks to me like most of the hats were made to order, even though the costume houses in England have warehouses full of vintage hats. You are in luck. This is a relatively easy hat to make. I believe the underside of the brim trim is actually a type of silk embroidered ribbon trim that was made in the Austria/Hungary area in the early 20th century. I used to see it in the trim stores in New York back in the seventies. However, I think your idea of crazy quilt trim is fabulous, better than the silk embroidery. If you are serious about wanting to make this hat, a pattern is actually available from McCalls and would take only minor alterations for you to have a copy of the Downton Abbey hat. The other hats that you sent photos of are a bit more challenging and would take a professional milliner to recreate. I will post again to give you the info on the pattern. I forgot to write it down. Have fun.

chasbatte said...

The milliner again...the pattern is McCall's M6465 at this link http://mccallpattern.mccall.com/m6450-products-14897.php?page_id=104 The beige hat worn by the woman in orange. And a big oops...The riding hat that you showed in you post is actually an antique. The hats made for the show are the ones I saw in the other post that you mentioned. I will be happy to guide you through making your hat if you would like since it does take a particular fabric and a couple of little hat making tricks to turn that pattern into you hat. Just let me know. What fun.

shirley said...

I am sure that in another life I belonged to the 'lots of lace and beautiful hats and clothes brigade....the series starts soon here and am looking forward to seeing the next series.

Mouse said...

eee love the hat and the series .. and Maggie just cracks me up with her one liners .... the hat I think is what they call a "cloche"hat ... if my wee brain remembers right ... not sure the lining is quilted though more likely to be a silk lining poss scarf etc ... hope you manage to get one made ... :) love mouse xxxx

Susan McShannon-Monteith said...

The costumes certainly are delightful, as for the hat I bet you could make one!
Susan

Cathy said...

I am drooling over the hat, plus all the other hats, costumes, decor, etc. But I must live in a cave (or Utah), because I had not even heard of Downtown Abbey before. And the kicker is that DH Bruce HAD!! We have just found that Season One is on Netflix, and will begin watching Season Two as they are aired here locally. I will be up to speed by the end of the month, LOL.

Methinks that CQI hat would be deceptively easy to make!

JLL24 said...

Dame Maggie Smith is a SCREAM! I have loved watching always on either the big screen or small. Thanks so much for the 10 moments of Maggie.

Judy S. said...

We love this show, too, Susan, but missed it on Sunday so will have to get caught up next week when they do a repeat, thankfully! Did you happen to see the article in Time about it? It was interesting. We braved the snow and went to a revival of Westside Story last Sunday...well worth the challenging trip! It's snowing like crazy at the moment, and today we are STAYING HOME!

Sandy said...

It is a wool felt cloche hat and there are many lovely examples. I found one particular lovely one on Amazon of all places.
http://www.amazon.com/Betmar-Floral-Boucle-Flapper/dp/B003QKHZB8/ref=pd_sbs_a_3
All you would have to do is add a tapestry or woolknit band OR embroider your own ;)

Mosaic Magpie said...

I watched my first episode of this last Sunday night after reading so many bloggers speak of it. The costumes are wonderful and all the details added to them just put them over the top!
Deb

Lisa Boni said...

What a lovely series this is! I've just seen the first season as I don't get TV here and have to wait for it to come out on DVD, but what a joy it was to watch! Love the clothes of that era, especially the white cotton and lace dresses and hats to go with!

Anonymous said...

Dame Maggie is certainly a treasure! To answer Laurie - there was so little that a "lady" was permitted to do in those days that some of them might very well have embroidered trimmings for their own garments. A century earlier, Jane Austen embroidered a whole dress for herself!

Emerald Window said...

That hat knocked my socks off too. Shouldn't be too hard for a talented lady like yourself to make.

FredaB said...

Susan you can have the hat - I will take the Irish chauffer - just for my driver of course.

I looked at Miss Maggies 10 and they were her as usual. Brilliant comedian.

We are big PBS fans in this house and always have been.

Hugs

FredaB

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