Adrienne Henry Millinery

    A selection of cloches in My Little Hat Shop   We have been very busy designing cloches this month. There are almost too many designs.   The cloches are available to buy in The Apple Market, Covent Garden, London and in My Little Hat shop in Reading, England.   Cloches can be made to order in different colours and styles.   If you would like to make and design your own cloche you can in one of our cloche workshops.   If you are interested please contact me at adriennehenry @hotmail.co.uk Website www.mylittlehatshop.com   

Ascot     Ascot 2012   Ladies Day- The Keyboard   Unfortunately we didn't get to attend Ascot this year, but look at this fab picture of Lyndsey Clark with one of my creations!   These head pieces were snapped so many times by the pap & we appeared in many magazines and newspapers!   If you would like us to design and make an interesting hat next year please contact us well in advance of Ascot.   We love making interesting and eye catching designs.   New website soon to be online www.adriennehenrymillinery.com  

Adrienne Henry Millinery - The Burlesque Collection   Another of our new range of Burlesque Hats photographed recently.  This is one of our favourites and I thoroughly enjoyed designing and making this headpiece.     The pillbox hat has been blocked/made using a vintage block then covered with black silk and black lace. The front is dressed with black veiling and the back is decorated with 3 black ostrich feathers which have been cut and shaped. T his hat will be available to buy soon when my new website is online.   We can also make this in other colours and sizes.    T he beautiful corset was designed and made by Lyndsey Clark, www.lyndsey-clark-boutique.co.uk  My thanks to our model Tahnee Corby and Mia for her beautiful photography, www.mecifi.com . 

A Blue Saucer Shaped Hat Allayne Roper, who is one of my best, and favourite customers who in time along with her husband Paul have become good friends of mine asked us to make a hat for her  visit to Buckingham Palace. It is always exciting when we make hats for occasions such as garden parties in the palace grounds or when members of the family attend Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle to receive MBEs or OBEs.  We designed a 'saucer shaped hat' made from navy blue sinamay, edged with blue satin and  trimmed with sinamay curls and feathers to match the pattern on Allayne's dress. This shape of hat is very popular at the moment, especially for special functions including weddings. This would be perfect hat for Mother of the Bride.

  Photography - www.mecifi.com   Our New Burlesque Collection  Our new Burlesque hat collection is almost complete. We have had a lot of fun designing and making hats suitable for the stage or just for fun.   This burlesque pillbox has been made using a vintage oval shaped block then covered with green silk and black lace. The rose is made from black pleated crin.   Each of our designs will soon be available to buy when our new website is online - watch this space!   The collection will be available to be made in colours of your choice to compliment or match your outfit.     My thanks to Tahnee for being a super model and Mia for her, as always, wonderful photography.   

  Adrienne Henry The Milliner & Mother of the Groom A few years ago my son married Liz who now helps me with my business. As mother of the groom I wore the first ever large had I hade ever made. I had already bought an outfit to wear to the wedding and had to buy another when I decided to wear the hat I had made. Luckily matching up with black and white is easy. The majority of ladies buying a dress to wear to a wedding buy the outfit and then have a terrible time trying to match the accessories. Some want to match colours exactly, this can be quite difficult. As a milliner, when I am asked about colours and realise it will be impossible to match a colour, I will always suggest a contrasting colour or one with a similar tone. Then often life becomes easier for the client. Fashion colours change each year and if you buy an outfit early problems can arise when the new fashion is different.  

  Buckingham Palace   Natalie Poole was lucky enough to get a Royal invite to Buckingham Palace! She came into the shop knowing which colours she'd like and we matched them up and she left with this lovely creation!

Harmony on Heads at Royal Ascot     Last year 8 of us, family and friends, attended Ladies day at Royal Ascot.   As we are a very harmonious group we wore appropriate headpieces   Lyndsey wore the keyboard, as mentioned in a previous blog, the rest of us wore various musical notes.   We had a great day and our hats were photographed all day long.   We intend to go back next year, having missed this this year. I have many months to come up with an equally pleasing set of headpieces.        

Maroon French Style Perching Beret   The Parisienne Collection is a collection of French style hats and berets with a modern twist. In the collection there are a number of cloches, both traditional and new designs. They will be available to buy in different sizes and colours from our new website www.adriennehenrymillinery.com which will be online very soon.   All our hats will be made to order.   For any enquiries please contact me adriennehenry @hotmail.co.uk .   

Military Uniform Hire - Outfit fit for a Lt Colonel Martin hired this uniform for a Murder Mystery evening this week. He looked very start and was delighted with the outfit. Military uniforms are ideals for evenings such as this. We have a selection available to hire. When supplying uniforms we help to dress you as correctly as possible. Medals are not provided as this is not legal. www.militarycostumehire.co.uk

   RAF Uniform   Military Uniform Hire   We have a selection of military uniforms from the three forces, Army, RAF and Royal Navy, both officer's and other ranks, available to hire.   We also have American GI uniforms.   All our uniforms are suitable for events such as the Goodwood Revival, Blitz Parties, 1940s re-enactments, Murder Mystery, Fancy Dress Parties.     All information and prices are available on our website http://www.militaryuniformhire.co.uk   They are available to hire from my hat shop in Reading.   26 Harris Arcade, Reading, Berks, RG1 1DN   01189 504421     Or please contact me via email @ adriennehenry@hotmail.co.uk   or adriennehenrymillinery@gmail.com  

Military Uniform Hire 'In My Little Hat Shop' we also have military uniforms for hire. These uniforms are perfect for events such as the Goodwood Revival, 1940s Blitz Parties, Murder Mystery evenings, 1940s re-enactment events and theatre productions. All the details can be found on our website: www.militarycostumehire.co.uk 

La Gavroche - Crazy Caps Everyone from Brigitte Bardot, Vanessa Paradis to Kate Moss have worn one.  For the "Gavroche" collection, we have used curtain fabric of various colours and designs.   La Gavroche Collection is very Popular. Sold in Covent Garden , they are being bought by ladies who want to own this unique, timeless and quirky cap.   Many of the caps are now in Paris, Boston, New York and even Texas :) to name just a few.   You too can own a crazy cap.   Photography: http://www.mecifi.com

      Peacock feather are beautiful to work with.   They have so many colours and we use them to compliment many different coloured silks.   This headpiece has a very simple but effective design.   In the centre of the piece there are crystals, adding just a little sparkle.   Soon to be on our new website available to buy.   Any enquiries please contact me : adriennehenry @hotmail.co.uk     

          Adrienne Henry     Yesterday once again we had a photo shoot. Mia, Mecifi Photography, photography our winter collection, for our soon to arrive website, and me.   For once being pampered by and expert make up artist, Nicha Rajput based in Reading, was a real treat. Every woman should experience the feeling at least once in their lifetime. I loved every minute!     

A happy mother of the bride wearing a cocktail hat we designed together.     At Adrienne Henry Millinery we frequently make hats and headpieces for 'mother of the bride', and thoroughly enjoy seeing photos of the wedding and the mother wearing her hat.    The base of this headpiece was made from sinamay and decorated with feathers, veiling and swarovski crystals.   And the sun shone all day!   

The Great Gatsby inspired Maroon cloche - 1920s style Autumn & Winter  Hat   This is the second cloche in our La  Parisienne collection. Very similar to our last post but the cloche is in a different colour and slightly different in style. Each of our cloches are bespoke, two are never quite the same. Today we are working hard creating a new style for the next collection. La Parisienne will be on our newly revamped website within the next couple of weeks; http://www.adriennehenrymillinery.co.uk   The Parisienne collection will be available to buy on line. Each hat will be made to order and in a variety of colours. The cloches are also available to buy every Tuesday and Wednesday at The Apple Market, Covent Garden London. Many different cloches, headpieces and hats we make are available to buy here.   . Photographer Mia Mecifi  http://www.mecifi.com

Gatsby inspired  wool cloches - 1920s style A perfect hat for Autumn, Winter and Spring Yesterday in My Little Hat Shop, Reading, Berkshire, England, we had a fantastic photo shoot. Mia, MECIFI Photography, Reading Berkshire, took the first photos for our La Parisienne Collection. The collection includes 1920s cloches, cloches with a twist and perching berets. The Great Gatsby has introduced the 1920s era to so many people. Cloches were worn both as day and evening wear. The collection will be on our newly revamped website within the next couple of weeks; http://www.adriennehenrymillinery.co.uk The cloches are also available to buy every Tuesday and Wednesday at The Apple Market, Covent Garden London. Many different cloches, headpieces and hats we make are available to buy here.   The Parisienne collection will be available to buy on line. Each hat will be made to order and in a variety of colour...

  The Mad Hatter Bridal Top Hat   Last week In My Little Hat Shop, in Reading Berkshire, a lady came in and asked us to dress a top hat to compliment her wedding outfit. The dress she was going to wear was vintage with a floral print. The silk we used was the same colour as the majority of the roses. It was very pretty dress and the flowers we made were a perfect match to those on the dress.   In the shop we have a selection of new and vintage silk top hats for sale.     adriennehenry @hotmail.co.uk   http://adriennehenrymillinery.co.uk    

  Fedoras for all seasons Last night watch the last 10 minutes of the Voice on BBC1. There was Will I Am wearing a grey fedora. He clearly is a very fashion conscious man and loves wearing hats.   Fedoras like the one Will I Am was wearing are a great fashion statement as well as very functional. They can be worn all year around. Even though they are made from 100% wool felt. I have sold to men taking them on holiday to the Caribbean, how hot is it there?     Fedoras can be worn by boys and men of any age, they also look good on ladies! We have a wide selection in the shop to choose from. — at Adrienne Henry Millinery .  

Photography by  Mecifi Last year Lyndsey Clark (Lyndsey-Clark Boutique) and I collaborated to raise funds for Breast Cancer Awareness. In My Little Hat Shop I had a bra collection box. Ladies brought in their unwanted bras. As there we so many bras Lyndsey designed a beautiful corset dress using just 17 bras. I made the headpiece to represent the charity.. The bra dress was then auctioned to raise more funds. We both enjoyed the project and was very grateful to Mia for taking beautiful photographs for us. www.adriennehenrymillinery.co.uk

The Great Gatsby   The Great Gatsby has inspired many milliners around the world. We all enjoy watching films where hats and beautiful clothes are worn. The Great Gatsby is one of these films.   At Adrienne Henry, we have enjoyed making cloches for three years, and even though it is Summer time these hat are very popular.   Every Tuesday and Wednesday we sell them in The Apple Market, Covent Garden, London.   Both our traditional and modern style with a twist are popular. Many tourists have come from all over the world and taken one home with them. Several Americans have mentioned there are no hats like this at home, maybe I need to export to the USA.   Our cloches are made in many designs, colours and sizes. 

Looking back at older blogs...have a look here; http://mylittlehatshop.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/bridemaid-headbands.html for bridesmaid inspiration!

  Preparing for a phonto shoot for my new website - where you will be able to buy many new designs online! Watch this space for more info!

https://www.facebook.com/#!/a.h.millinery

Are you having a Steampunk themed wedding?    We make headpieces for themed weddings, parties or just for fun.   Take a look BELOW for other fabulous Stempunk Design!!   http://mylittlehatshop.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/bridal-steampunk-cocktail-hat-headpiece.html            

SUMMER IS HERE!! Festivals are coming and the sun is out! Treat yourself to a straw trilby for just £25! Come and visit the shop in the Harris Arcade, Reading to see our summer collection!

    Bridal Steampunk Hat / Heapiece   This steampunk hat/headpiece is suitable for the bride who wants to wear both traditional and steampunk at the same time.   The cocktail hat is ivory and decorated with keys, chains, small watch parts and completed with curled pheasant feathers.   All our headpieces are bespoke however, hats very similar to this can be made to order ivory or other colours.   The hats are available to buy on etsy, Adrienne Henry Millinery and soon through our website www.adriennehenrymillinery.co.uk .   For any enquiries please email me, adriennehenry@hotmail.co.uk          

Children's cloches     Our first cloche made specially for children, or ladies with a petite head, was sold today.   Jessica and her mum have the same size heads and wear each others hats, they are both hat lovers.   Both  mum and daughter were delighted with this 1920s cloche which has a modern day twist at the front. The button is vintage and made from mother of pearl. Jessica looked very pretty in her new hat. These smaller cloches are available from the shop and will be for sale online in the future. For any enquiries please contact me, adriennehenry @hotmail.co.uk .  

        Being a milliner is a very interesting and frequently an exciting occupation. To play with straws felts and lots of  fancy decorations is very rewarding. The term milliner now referring to both men and women who designs and makes hat was once just used for women. Of our well known milliners, the two names known by most people are men. The word was first recorded in 1529 when it meant suppliers of fancy goods , the term was used to refer to the products for which Milan were well known. Milan together with northern Italian regions were well known for producing ribbons, gloves and straw. These products were imported. The straws were called 'Millaners'. It was only in the 1770s when the milliner started to design and make hats. France was noted for using the decorative aspects of millinery, England was where many styles of hats were designed. .

White Fur Felt Fedora     This is a beautiful and very soft gentlemen's fedora which can also be worn by ladies.     As a unisex hat it is suitable to be worn at weddings, on holiday and special occasions.      We have a few in the shop but can order any size from our suppliers.   The hat costs £95 and includes it's own hat box.

Bridal Headpiece with Birdcage suitable for the Vintage Style Bride This is a preview of our new bridal collection which will be on sale on our website in a few weeks time, www.adriennehenrymillinery.co.uk   We have been working hard on a new collection of bridal headpieces. Each of our bridal pieces have a vintage style design and many include birdcages. These headpieces are very suitable for brides who will be wearing a vintage style or original wedding dress.   The headpiece above includes a silk double bow which is embroidered with a gold silk decoration. The birdcage together with the bow gives the headpiece a vintage feel.   Model - Giorgia Sacco   Photography - Ross Hale Take Away Gallery, Harris Arcade , Reading   Hair and makeup - Priyanka Kaur Narain and Ilona Edwards         

  A Fedora   A large selection of men's hats arrived at the shop last week, it was very exciting and took all day to sort out. . We now have fedoras in several colours including red. Also new black and maroon pork pies, Harrison Ford hats, summer fedoras and trilbys', bowler hats in lots of different sizes and top hats ready for Ascot.    Red and black berets are available, these are suitable for both ladies and gentlemen.   Please come and visit My Little Hat Shop in Reading if you would like to look at our collection of hats for men.   Anthony Free Photography     

      Mother of the Bride Headpiece   At the moment at Adrienne Henry Millinery we are making lots of headpieces for the mother of the bride. This headpiece, designed for Karen, was an ivory and gold silk covered cocktail base decorated with veiling, sinamay twists and a gold silk rose. The colours of the headpiece matched the colours of the dress and jacket perfectly.   Bespoke smaller hats and headpieces are very fashionable and can me worn by ladies who are unable, or do not wish to wear a large hat.           

    The Winter Hat     Last week we all thought that the winter weather had finally gone, summer at last was here. Little did we know that it would not last. Tomorrow in London the temperature is not going to be much higher than 10 degrees Celsius, with an added wind chill factor, it will probably feel like winter again. Oh where has the sunny weather gone?   Soon we will be once again making our winter collection of faux fur hats and ear warmers. Maybe I should start now and sell them in the shop and at Covent Garden. One day summer will come back, question is how long will it last?   

  Steampunk Bridal Headpiece       A successful day completing our Steampunk Bridal Headpieces.   Rather than making headpieces or hats for weddings etc, I have been asked to design steampunk headpieces.   Steampunk Headpieces include very interesting add ons, these include cogs, keys chains and pieces of clock and watches.   We design bespoke headpieces for clients who wish to have that extra special hat no-one else has.   Vintage Bridal Headpieces are also made to order. If you have a specific design in mind please contact us if you would like to make an enquiry.     Steampunk headpiece available on etsy, Adrienne Henry Millinery   For any enquiries please email me, adriennehenry@hotmail.co.uk

Black Cocktail Hat   This hat is ideal for any special occasion including Ascot. Base base is covered with sequined fabric giving a sparkle. The base is topped with a circle of pleated black crin and completed with beads.   This hat can be seen at The Apple Market, Covent Garden, London this week. Price of this hat is £95.   If you would like further information about purchasing the hat please email me. adriennehenry@hotmail.co.uk

Fascinator Workshop         Fascinator Workshops Fascinator workshop to be held in My Little Hat Shop, Reading Berks If you would like to learn to make a simple but sophisticated fascinator on 11th March we are holding 2 workshops. Morning 10.30 - 12.30 Afternoon 1.30 - 3.30 Each workshop costs £35, all materials are included in the price. Each fascinator is sewn by hand, good sewing skills are not essential. For all enquiries please email me adriennehenry@hotmail.co.uk We also offer fascinator and headpiece parties ideal for Hen Parties, corporate functions or just for fun.

  Headpiece A bowl of Liquorice Allsorts   Why not have a headpiece made to turn heads at occasions such as Royal Ascot. This headpiece is bowl shaped upturned base covered with burgundy silk filled with sweets. The allsorts are made from black and white felt and are very realistic, almost good enough to eat. The bowl sits on a headband covered in the same burgundy silk and a white feather spine to complete the effect.   Headpieces similar to this are made to order. Please email me if you would like to make an enquiry, adriennehenry@hotmail.co.uk      

Peacock Feather Headpiece   Ideal to wear to Royal Ascot     Everyone who goes to Royal Ascot knows to dress up and wear a hat is a must. Many ladies spend the day showing their outfit rather than watch the races. Every time I have attended has been very memorable for so many reasons. As a milliner I spend the day looking at the hats and seeing that they compliment the outfit and sit perfectly on the head. Two years ago a young lady wore her hat with the black elastic under her chin. This brought childhood memories flooding back when we wore boaters with black elastic positioned under our chins too. I wonder what I will see this year.     

Evie sewing her green Cloche     Yesterday we had a cloche making workshop. Heather and Evie both made a traditional asymmetrical 1920s style wool felt cloche. They both worked very hard hand stitching their hats. Evie's green cloche looked wonderful against her red hair and she left the shop proudly wearing her own creation.     Cloche workshops are available throughout the year. 4 hour workshop £65, all materials included in the price All day workshop £95, learn how to block a cloche and create your own design from beginning to end. 

  We have now successfully started selling in The Apple Market, Covent Garden London. Selling the hats in a popular holiday destination has been a very interesting move.  Each time a hat is sold we ask where it will be taken. The ear warmers have journeyed as far as Queensland Australia, the cloches are now in various countries in Europe, as well as America and Canada. Each hat will have it's own story to tell. From My Little Hat Shop in Reading, England to who knows where?    

Chereeka's wedding was 1950s themed. Her dress, headpiece and wedding reception was inspired totally by the 1950s. For her headpiece Chereeka chose an ivory sinamay pillbox. Just peeping out from the bow at the back was a small mouse and there was a trail of green swarovski crystals. The veiling completed the 50s theme. Bridal headpieces are usually bespoke and designed with the bride. We have a selection of bridal headpieces available in the shop. www.adriennehenrymillinery.co.uk

    Last year I designed and made 8 musical themed headpieces for my family and friends to wear to Ascot. As soon as we arrived the photographers were very interested in taking photos of us as a group. Lydnsey had her photo taken so many times and the above photo appeared in magazines around the world unfortunately, without my name attached. We are currently thinking about this year's designs.   Our collection of hats is available to buy. To place an order just email me adriennehenry@hotmail.co.uk .

      Nuit   Model   Precious Baque Photographer  Salvo Toscano     This is one of the Nuit collection. The collection includes various sizes of pillbox bases covered with black silk. Each one is decorated with twisted silver jewellery wire and completed with black veiling. Each one of the collection compliments the 'little black number', burlesque costumes or an outfit for a special occasion. It is a simple but very sophisticated headpiece.

Pretty little headband suitable for bridesmaids or even the bride.. Silk flowers with veiling,colours to compliment or match the dress, on a silver coloured headband.   Bridesmaid's Headbands     This can be ordered in a colour of your choice.     Please email me Adrienne @ adriennehenry @hotmail.co.uk if you would like to make an enquiry or order one.   Price will vary according to size and fabric required. This example of a headpiece is from £39. P&P not included, we  will ship worldwide.  

Many brides today are looking to dress in vintage style clothes and want to compliment their dress with a vintage style birdcage. At Adrienne Henry Bridal we have designed several bidcages decorated with silk bows and flowers.       Vinatge style Bridal Headpiece made with silk and veiling

Today the sun shone again and Sasha spent the day making cloches. Both of us love the 1920s and 30s fashions and enjoy desiging and making our own cloches, some with a modern twist in My Little Hat Shop. In the 20s the close-fitting cloche became the uniform of the day. Hat shops too were very popular and found in all towns and cities, unlike today. Ladies rarely went out not wearing a hat, they were a fashion statement and the cloche was very popular. In My Little Hat Shop we have a selection of hats for men too. The Fedora was worn by gentlemen and also very popular in the fisrt half of the 20th century. They are becoming very popular today.

The sun is shining and it is such a lovely day to make special occasion hats. We have just spent this afternoon blocking large hats suitable for Ascot, A Day at the Races, Mother of the Bride and of course Mother of the Groom, everyone seems to forget the mother of the groom. Once the blocked hats has dried and been prepared they will be decorated hopefully very soon and ready to be photographed then included in my new website which will be coming soon, www.adriennehenrymillinery.co.uk . It is such a pleasure to see the sun after this very long winter.

  Mother of the Bride Small sinamay flowers set in a bed of sinamay and netting, embelished with pearls.