Hi Everyone!The National Drive was a huge success. The Perfect 10 Turnout Contest was so fun! Everyone presented great turnout ideas and looked fabulous doing it! The SB Designs jackets are looking so beautiful.. (pictures will be on www.hatsoffboutique.com soon) Wedding hats and veils are a work in progress so stay tuned.
Summer is over and Fall has knocked on our door! Indian summer colors, wool jackets and beautiful, stylish, velour hats are at the top of the shopping list... Deep reds, Golden yellows, Burnt oranges are great colors for fall, whether it be a jacket or hat. I also think that Turquoise will be a great color this fall, jacket and hat wise! The sheen of a velour hat adds such a richness to the hat and the entire outfit.
Do some closet cleaning.... Go through your summer turnout clothes. If you didn't wear it or just didn't love it, then permenately loan it, give it, or sell it to someone else! Make room for new! Now is the time to check the clearance racks for closeout summer jackets too. There are great buys out there.
Fall is my favorite time of year.. crisp, rich colors are sure to get you a Perfect 10!
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Friday, August 5, 2011
What To Shop For?
So if you have some time to go shopping for Carriage Driving accessories.. what should one shop for?
Let's talk about jackets... Look for jackets that are more tailored and have at least 3 buttons or a zipper up the front. If you are a fuller bodied woman look for jackets that have princess seams. These are seams that are set in the side back and side front. They create a more tailored jacket and won't make you look like a box!
Necklines.. notched collars, mandarin collars, no collars ... all are great. The main point is to not have a huge downward plunging open neckline.
Sleeves... make sure that the jacket sleeves are long enough. I personally like the bottom of my sleeves to come down to where my thumb joins my hand. This length of sleeve will allow us to move our arms and the skin between the end of sleeve and glove doesn't show!
A scarf is a great accessory! It helps cover up an open neckline and tie the jacket and hat together. A scarf can be tied several different ways making the overall appearance have a "tucked in" and "polished" look!
What to wear under the jacket... a nice thin "dickey", camisole or mock turtleneck. A turtleneck rides far enough up your neck that when you tie your scarf, the skin between the jacket and turtleneck doesn't show! Once again giving the "polished" look.
Pants... Wearing a nice pair of dress slacks that matches your apron as close as possible works well. Dress slacks are comfortable under your apron too.
Don't forget to get a nice pair of earrings. Keep the earring small and a "little bit"of sparkle is great. It is an accent not an attention getter!
Happy Shopping!
Sherri - Hats Off Boutique
Let's talk about jackets... Look for jackets that are more tailored and have at least 3 buttons or a zipper up the front. If you are a fuller bodied woman look for jackets that have princess seams. These are seams that are set in the side back and side front. They create a more tailored jacket and won't make you look like a box!
Necklines.. notched collars, mandarin collars, no collars ... all are great. The main point is to not have a huge downward plunging open neckline.
Sleeves... make sure that the jacket sleeves are long enough. I personally like the bottom of my sleeves to come down to where my thumb joins my hand. This length of sleeve will allow us to move our arms and the skin between the end of sleeve and glove doesn't show!
A scarf is a great accessory! It helps cover up an open neckline and tie the jacket and hat together. A scarf can be tied several different ways making the overall appearance have a "tucked in" and "polished" look!
What to wear under the jacket... a nice thin "dickey", camisole or mock turtleneck. A turtleneck rides far enough up your neck that when you tie your scarf, the skin between the jacket and turtleneck doesn't show! Once again giving the "polished" look.
Pants... Wearing a nice pair of dress slacks that matches your apron as close as possible works well. Dress slacks are comfortable under your apron too.
Don't forget to get a nice pair of earrings. Keep the earring small and a "little bit"of sparkle is great. It is an accent not an attention getter!
Happy Shopping!
Sherri - Hats Off Boutique
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Where To Shop!
For some people... This is the next worst task! Where do we shop for clothes?
First Stop: In Your Closet! You would be amazed what you will find to wear in your closet... I used to work in the corporate world. I had alot of dress jackets from suits.. I ditched the skirts and kept the jackets. Most of you know that I am not a fan of white shirts and vests being worn in the carriage. If that is all you have then make it work.
Second Stop: Thrift stores and consignment shops... I am such a junkie when it comes to these stores.. I can spot them a mile away! They are a great place to find bargains. Men and women can find jackets, slacks/pants, ties and shoes here. Just check the clothing over for stains, snags and missing buttons...you might have to take the jacket to the cleaners before you wear it or replace the buttons but most of the time there are "diamonds in the rough" just waiting to be purchased!
Third Stop: Department Stores... Check the clearance racks..sometimes you have to dig but I have found great buys just by digging through the racks and watching for sales.
Fourth Stop: Ebay.. This takes a lot of patience and time.. and the disadvantage is that you can't touch it or try the garmet on before you buy it. However, if you have time to sit at the computer, sort through pages of garments, risk the color being what they say it is, sleeves being long enough and the fit being close enough..Then Shop Away.. Great Bargains Await You!
Fifth Stop: Have a jacket custom sewn. Yes, this is more expensive, but if you don't have time to shop this is a great option. Plus, you know that the jacket will fit and look great!
Stay Tuned: "What Style of Jacket"
First Stop: In Your Closet! You would be amazed what you will find to wear in your closet... I used to work in the corporate world. I had alot of dress jackets from suits.. I ditched the skirts and kept the jackets. Most of you know that I am not a fan of white shirts and vests being worn in the carriage. If that is all you have then make it work.
Second Stop: Thrift stores and consignment shops... I am such a junkie when it comes to these stores.. I can spot them a mile away! They are a great place to find bargains. Men and women can find jackets, slacks/pants, ties and shoes here. Just check the clothing over for stains, snags and missing buttons...you might have to take the jacket to the cleaners before you wear it or replace the buttons but most of the time there are "diamonds in the rough" just waiting to be purchased!
Third Stop: Department Stores... Check the clearance racks..sometimes you have to dig but I have found great buys just by digging through the racks and watching for sales.
Fourth Stop: Ebay.. This takes a lot of patience and time.. and the disadvantage is that you can't touch it or try the garmet on before you buy it. However, if you have time to sit at the computer, sort through pages of garments, risk the color being what they say it is, sleeves being long enough and the fit being close enough..Then Shop Away.. Great Bargains Await You!
Fifth Stop: Have a jacket custom sewn. Yes, this is more expensive, but if you don't have time to shop this is a great option. Plus, you know that the jacket will fit and look great!
Stay Tuned: "What Style of Jacket"
Sunday, July 31, 2011
I Don't Have A Thing To Wear!
I think this is the biggest issue in carriage driving.. whether CDE's or pleasure driving... What to wear!
For both men and women.. simple trick... think about color .. What is your favorite color? Go with it!
Although sometimes the carriages that we own don't always allow this. If you can wear a color that makes you feel good..then you have mastered half of the "What to wear" problem!
For both men and women.. simple trick... think about color .. What is your favorite color? Go with it!
Although sometimes the carriages that we own don't always allow this. If you can wear a color that makes you feel good..then you have mastered half of the "What to wear" problem!
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