Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Tweed Ride 2012: Triple Houndstooth

The Girls


Riding on R St


Sunday was the Tweed Ride, and of course we were on it!  Nothing is more fun than dressing up retro and riding around town.  Here is the crowd riding about a block from my house.  I admit that we peeled off here--we had to get ready for the party.

Crowd






 We started off in Franklin Square in downtown DC.  Everyone was in their finest and there was a lot of inspiration to be had.

 I have never been into the tiny top hat for women, until I saw this woman's hat.  Love it!  I think the scale is just perfect--not so small as to be entirely twee, but not so full-sized so that it loses its sauciness.


Cidell and Liz License Plates




Cidell and Liz got custom Maryland license plates for their bikes. I was pretty jealous and think I might need a DC one. I just can't decide what to put on it! Any ideas?


The Look









I had a lot of fun putting together my look.  I spent the 10 days before the ride working on two different hats, and couldn't decide which way to go.  In the end, I figured that the chance for triple houndstooth (hat, dress, and tights) does not arise very often and must be seized upon.


The dress is Butterick 5520, out of a nice thick wool that kept me warm despite the chilly day..


Front Closeup








I am quite proud of my hat.  Judging by the prices for hand-blocked felt hats on Etsy (though they don't seem to have many sales) I feel that I have now *almost* justified the hundreds of dollars I have spent on millinery supplies and a class over the years.









Molding on Headform


I bought a vintage wooden head form on Etsy last year and spent many hours sanding it down to my freakishly small head size.

After looking at tutorials on blogs and YouTube (tutorials and inspiration photos are on my Hats Pinterest board), I wet and steamed the felt hood.  I started out with the idea of doing a pillbox hot, and used my metal form for that (the linked photo gives you more of an idea of what the hood started out looking like, I didn't think to take a flat photo).  But it just didn't look right.

So I wetted and steamed it again and started over.  The hood was very thick and a little difficult to shape, so I kept it fairly simple.

The Look



All my Tweed Ride photos are here and the sewing/hatmaking relevant photos are here.

As I mentioned, I was working on another hat simultaneously.  I decided it was too great not to get *some* exposure, so I did a costume change before the party.  It also involved a new blouse and revitalized skirt, so stay tuned...

23 comments:

Karin said...

These rides look like such a great time! You all look wonderful, and I am very impressed to think that you actually made that hat yourself!
The customized plates do look good. I'd be curious to know what your choose if you do decide to go for it.

T. Sedai said...

The outfit looks great, I especially love the hat!

Sigrid said...

What fun! Your triple houndstooth look is wonderful. I envy you for your hat, no one would ever think you made it yourself. Gorgeous.

Uta said...

Your hat looks totally professional, well, better than that, custom-made! I also love the triple houndstooth. Occasions for dressing up nicely and a bit over-the-top are just too rare!

niddetissus said...

Love the triple threat! I am very impressed with your millinery skills too :)

Anonymous said...

Your hat is gorgeous! Those lessons and supplies are worth this type of result.

As for your personalized plate, my vote is DC RED .

SheriNJ

Little Hunting Creek said...

You look great in triple tweed. I love your hat!

badmomgoodmom said...

Wow! Mere mortals cannot carry off that whole lotta look. I bow to you, goddess of fashion aplomb.

McVal said...

What a great outfit and hat!!! I look forward to your Tweed ride every year to see what you come up with!

Clio said...

I'm so impressed by your mad hat skills! What a great hat and outfit!

liza jane said...

Amazing! I am super impressed with your hat making skills. You look great.

Lynneb said...

Well, who would have imagined all that houndstooth together? But you made it work! The suit is adorable, and the hat is a perfect topper!

Mrs. Micawber said...

I love the triple brooch and the triple-strand necklace too - way to carry off a trifecta of triplitude! (I think I made that word up.)

It does look chilly. And I do like that little top hat - reminds me very much of women's riding hats from the 18th and 19th centuries. Your hat looks great, and I can't wait to see the other one. :)

Mrs. Micawber said...

P.S. "Slapdash" for your custom plate, if they allow that many letters.

Cynthia said...

So cute!!! I love the dress and the hat

Beth (SunnyGal Studio) said...

you look so great and I can't believe you made that fantastic hat, wow.

Rox said...

Love the dress: the colors and cut are so ladylike! I think it would look fabulous with high heels or booties for cocktails...

Kathy said...

That's a great suit and the hat is perfect. Love the whole idea of the ride! Do you get second looks when you pedal past in your boas and houndstooth and pearls?

Unknown said...

Love your outfit, especially the hat. My suggestions for your personalized plate: DC RED

Virginia at A Sewing Life said...

The thought and care you put into this ensemble really paid off--it's divine. Crazily, though, my favorite part is the trio of brooches! I read an article recently which said brooches are the most sold or consigned item of jewelry, as "no one wears them anymore." Fie! Love brooches and pins!

MushyWear said...

Great job on your hat! The triple houndstooth was a standout look for your ride, and it looks like the weather cooperated.

Minoustate said...

Such fun! Looks like it was a grand time. We don't have one yet in Brussels.
Is SewSueMe too long for a customized bike plate? Oh that would be so cool, I'd love one too. I've been joking we don't have diplomatic corps bike plates since I saw some ambassadors on bikes at work (great).

Minoustate said...

Oh no--this is Katharine in Brussels, not my husband :)