Featured Fascinators

Afternoon everyone and a Happy New Year!

Now that the mad rush that is Christmas is over….decorations are down and stored away and we have sung in the New Year its time to put all those good intentions…all those wild ideas and crazy dreams into action!

I have been lacking in the blogging department I know….but I’ve been busy!

In the last 8 week I have had the busiest time ever with orders, completed 2 new collections…..soon to be unveiled….watch this space……. and am undertaking what I consider to be something new and rather exciting…although scary at the same time! So much work so little time!

However I have decided that to move forward I need to conquer my fears and just get on with it! To that end I am in the process of developing a new all singing all dancing website which will not only show case my brand new collection but will also be a platform for showing unique one off items…things that can only be made once because of the fabulous piece vintage lace I have found or a totally unique perfect Art Deco jewel.

I will also be showcasing my brand new Ready to Wear collection. All very exciting and sleep preventing at the moment, but once up and running something of which I can be very proud!!

Thank you to all my 2011 customers…have met some wonderful people this last year. I hope to be able to show more of my ‘hats in action’ pictures on here soon…..Beth Morgan, as worn by you! Looking forward to the fab surprises this year will bring!

BM

Morning! Read this piece recently and thought I would share it with you…..got to love SJP….got to love the people who dress her and got to love the way she wears the clothes….and when a certain Mr Treacy makes you something like this, then WOW….bet it did leave people gasping….and talking!! Excellent…lets all talk hat!!

BM x

They say any PR is good PR. So perhaps it was good news that Philip Treacy created another outrageous headpiece for actress Sarah Jessica Parker. The Treacy hat raised some eyebrows when Parker wore it to the Crown Oaks Club Ladies Luncheon in Melbourne, Australia.

The hat, that resembles a water slide, was the brainchild of Master Hatter Treacy. It took him over 200 hours to complete the silk mesh headpiece that some say had the audience in Melbourne gasping. It also had the media calling it a satellite dish and perhaps the most outrageous headpiece in Parker’s repertoire.

Treacy had this to say about the hat, “Fashion is about suspense and surprise… Sarah Jessica Parker is the ultimate fashion icon.”

The good news about racing events – and Treacy’s unabashed attitude about hats – is that when people talk about hats they think about hats. So last week was a good week to be thinking (or selling) hats. And the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival in Melbourne is the perfect place to showcase millinery talent.

Elizabeth Hurley, who collects hats more often than husbands, was also at the race donning a large white floral fascinator.

Parker was also in Australia to promote her new film, “I Don’t Know How She Does It.” She was also inadvertently promoting hats and fashion headpieces. We are grateful to Parker and Treacy for having the guts and faith in fashion to make new inroads in the headwear world.

Tags: headdress, Liz Hurley, Philip Treacy, Sarah Jessica Parker, SJP

(by kind permission….the utterly fab Archibald Photography)

There are trends that come and go fairly quickly….but I see no let up yet with the modern brides veil of choice …the Birdcage. Seen in many guises this cute, elegant, chic, dramatic little number is just running and running.

You’ve got to love it….it can any number of things to any number of brides and their chosen style of dress. I love the retro peek- a -boo look…worn with a fifties full skirt and a nipped in waist. The ever so chic 30′s brides with a bias cut silk column dress…all this girl needs is the whisper of soft tulle across her face, a strategically place vintage jewel and floaty ostrich feathers and you’re good to go.

I’m working on my new collection…needless to say the Birdcage will feature prominently….I’m looking at boho bride, sparkling bride, beach bride  amongst other……as soon as I have some pictures will let you see them.

In the mean time some tried and tested favourites!

Tags: 30's, 50's bride, archibald Photography, beach bride, birdcage veil, boho bride, ostrich feathers, veil, vintage

Morning!

Have been soooooo busy recently, creating, designing,thinking etc etc…….that I have  only just realised that a year has gone by since these images landed in my inbox!!

Not only that but I only remembered about them this morning after the fabulous stylist, Manika Nanda, who worked  the shoot contacted me via LinkedIn….brain has gone to mush…..

However the images are too good not to share, they were shot at the Hyatt Hotel Presidential Suite  by Phil Drinkwater and feature Jessica who is a director at

J Model Mangement and  was on the judging panel for Miss England!! So better late than never here they are!!  Enjoy!

Tags: Hyatt Hotel, J model Management, Jessica, Manika Nanda, Phil Drinkwater

Had a fab newsletter emailed  to me this week from Net- a- Porter….all about metallics and sparkle and it got me thinking of parties, beautiful frosty morning and…. dare I say it so soon….Christmas?

They were showing beautiful knitwear, fabulous shoes and chic trousers and skirts all covered in the most beautiful jewel like embellishment! LOVE IT!!!

Am a true girl…love the sparkle! How can you not love the Matthew Williamson sequin and feather dress…have lots of ideas for a headdress to go with this!

But this too from Moschino, elegant understated but soooooo amazing! Yes please!

Am finding myself leaning more and more towards light enhancing embellishment in my own work….the tiniest use of  fabulous Swarovski crystals just does ‘something’ to any fabric….just lifts it! Doesn’t have to be an eye popping, in your face amount of jewels…subtle bling is what it’s about….less is more and all that for most people…but there’s nothing like going full on Hollywood glamour either with a huge serving of gorgeous jewels! Will be adding both these dishes to my new collection….to satisfy all tastes!

Have a look…..enjoy!

http://www.net-a-porter.com/Shop/List/Shine_On?cm_mmc=Email-_-Dedicated-_-HighShine200911-_-Intl&cm_em=beth@bethmorgan.co.uk

Tags: Christmas, Hollywood, Matthew Williamson, Moschino, net a porter, New collection

Afternoon everyone

….another school year begins, another gorgeous Italian holiday is over and I have to get my head in gear to work and organise and design my new collection…mmmmmm.

If only it was that straight forward! I am still super busy with all my lovely couture wearing ladies…have been sending designs all over the world…America, Australia, Brazil, Germany etc etc. The world appears to have gone fascinator mad!! My order book is still full and there aren’t enough hours in the day…hence my complete failure at blogging!!

Although I’m already moaning about the weather and the cold..(.is Cheshire the wettest place on earth?  Not far off I reckon!!)……I am excited about Autumn and Christmas occasions, the excuse to wear something fabulous and sparkly…as many of my customers are doing….and wrapping ourselves in the richest of fabric, velvets, jewel like silk and  shiny new leather boots!!

There seems to be the annual serge towards all thing country…lots of pheasant feather requests, either long and dramatic or short feathers covering a pill box……give me some tartan and some heather and an open fire and we have the makings of a grand occasion!

Worn perhaps with…….

Tags: Autumn wedding, fascinator, heather, Italy, open fire, tartan, vintage

I need one…….I need warmth, no rain and a cool summer breeze to tone down pink cheeks in the evenings…..not much to ask really?!!

I will have holiday this summer….but first I have to get through the most ridiculous amount of work….not complaining….well I am a little….could do with some more hands!

There, I’ve moaned……

On the positive side I am making some amazing headdresses for some amazing people and I love the buzz and the excitement of opening email and answering calls just waiting to see what’s coming next! The world has gone hat mad!! Yeah!!!

Here are a couple of snaps of some recent work……enjoy!!

Tags: fascinators, hats, Headdresses, Summer

I know, I know….I’m not too good at keeping up with this blog thing….keep having to make hats and they get in the way!!

This is a quickie…just to say I am still here…survived the madness that is Ascot week…managed to enjoy myself at Ladies Day despite the cold and wet….but it wasn’t quite the same…not as much parading around in our finery this year….most kept inside out of the wind!

But the Spring/Summer madness is still not over and I can hardly keep up!

Have to say I am loving the fact that almost every day I am seeing the Duchess of Cambridge sporting another beautiful hat! Lets keep the Kate effect rolling! I have had enquiries from all over the world since the  wedding of the year…..Ghana,South Africa, Australia and the USA….we British, I think, still lead the way in the fabulous world of Millinery!!

Making our way home after Ladies Day……..got to love a fireman!!

Tags: Ascot, Duchess of Cambridge, ladies Day

Saw this on a blog from across the pond….seems the hat and fascinator rise is happening the world over!!! Long may it continue!!

BM

First we had The Royal Wedding, then the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala in NYC and lastly, the Kentucky Derby. And, the winner was definitely Hats and Fascinators.

There have been dozens of newspaper articles, blogs and TV interviews about the rising popularity of headwear. Everyone is saying that if Kate Middleton (now the Duchess of Cambridge) continues to wear hats then hat business will soar even more.

According to hat stores across the US and the UK, sales are up over last year. Over My Head, a hat boutique in Upper Arlington, Ohio, has seen an increase in demand for hats similar to the style worn by Middleton and wedding guests.

Hat trends are changing because of Middleton and the royal wedding, said Bethany Golden, owner of Over My Head.

Golden said her boutique saw an increase of almost 50 percent in sales from last year during the hat season, which includes the Kentucky Derby, Hat Day at the Franklin Park Conservatory and wedding season.

The hat style that is dominating now is the fascinator, worn by Middleton, Golden said. Fascinators are small hats or headbands worn on one side of the head, Golden said. They are often embellished with feathers, flowers or veiling.

“With a big hat, you see mostly hat (when a person is wearing it),” Golden said. “But with a fascinator, it kind of adds to you, versus getting covered up by a big hat.”

Golden said Over My Head sold four fascinators for every one regular hat this year. She said the boutique sold one fascinator in 2010 and has sold 38 in 2011.

Golden said she thinks the increase in demand comes from women wanting to wear Middleton’s style.

“With the popularity of the Royal Wedding and Kate Middleton, I think that femininity is starting to come back,” Golden said. “So you see dresses coming back, and you see headbands and flowers and hair adornments coming back. I think that’s all part of it.”

Golden said the majority of the fascinators in her store, which range in price from roughly $150 to $450, are made by Brenda Risacher, a local hat designer.

Golden said she thinks fascinators should become a fashion staple. “If Kate Middleton continues to wear hats, then I think we’ll see everyone else follow suit.”

Tags: ate Middleton, Costume Institute Gala, Derby, Kentucky Derby, Metropolitan Museum, NYC

Morning!

Six weeks and counting!

Having now got over the Royal Wedding rush and while still in the midst of the Bridal rush….I need to give a timely reminder to all you ladies out there that Royal Ascot is only a few short, sweet weeks away.

(I also have to remind myself to choose a dress and get on with my own hat! Some how I always wait to the last minute…mmmmm…….)

Talking of dresses…I have just been making some rather lovely headdresses to be worn with some really gorgeous Philip Armstong dresses…….dressmakers to all fabulous women….I rather like the nudes below…..

There are some totally fab frocks out there not to mention the shoes……so come on…get a wriggle on and don’t be the disappointed lady in the disappointing chapeau!

Just in case you need reminding…….Ladies Day June 16th!

Tags: Headdresses, ladies Day, nudes, Philip Armstrong, Royal Ascot, Royal wedding