Carole Denford - Fashion Hat UK
Black Toque with 'Paper' Flowers
The halo trim for Carole's 'Sisal Toque with Paper Flowers' was created using pages from an old paperback book and a toothpick, to create roses that were simple, stylish, 'readable' and yet very elegant. They were inspired by her Thursday 'Patchwork Class', attended as light relief to hats. The flowers on the finished hat had to be central to the design, so were strung on black cane and arranged as a halo, decorating a simple black sisal toque, and then softened with a black vintage veil.
Not for sale.
“Flowers have been made from way, way back in time, from all sorts of materials, from sheathes of straw in the 1800’s, to the beautiful silks, organza, and satins of today. For my exhibit, I wanted to incorporate ‘recycling’, but in a gentle fashion. And so made roses from the pages of an old paperback book using just a wooden toothpick, one simple tool. ”
Materials and Techniques
Sisal is a vintage millinery material sold in 'hood' form and loved by milliners. The hoods are not woven today but some are still available, so stocks are short and costs are high. The toque was blocked in the traditional millinery way using this fine straw. The rose petals are rolled with a toothpick and then threaded onto a piece of black cane. This strip is then positioned as a halo over the toque and a soft veil is added.
Millinery Heritage
“Launched The Hat Shop in Covent Garden in 1983, with a ‘super-busy’ Press Office, a Workroom and trained staff........ and never looked back!!”
About Carole Denford
Launched The Hat Shop in Covent Garden in 1983 and then 5 other shops - Launched The HAT Magazine in 1999 - Launched The British Hat Guild from a first meeting in Dec 2017 Phew........!!