Good news, I have now had a few more MOTB dress fittings with Auriole
B.
Auriole has been very understanding about the posse of supporters I
take. This includes either my Mum, Lucy and/or my friend and style guru Brenda.
For the third fitting just with my Mum, Auriole had made a mock up of the outfit in delightful
pink cotton. I almost changed my mind and chose the pink! Joking... I am very
glad there were no cameras there to capture that one! I have to say I really
love the colour of the fabric I have chosen, it very me and apparently IN or is it ON fashion
trend. Well there is a first time for everything.
I changed my idea of which shoes to wear after several friends
commented that I must not be frumpy. So I decided to get some proper shoes from A&J
Bridal Wear where Lucy is getting her dress. The shoes are much more wedding-y than an earlier blog post, and are currently being dyed to exactly
compliment my outfit.
So all that is left is the hat!
Prior to shopping I checked some of the wedding etiquette on
MOTB hats....here’s one of interest
Suit your style Remember, you’re wearing the hat and not
the other way around. Be confident but choose a style that ultimately you’re
comfortable in and one that complements your shape and height. If you’re tall
avoid tall hats and go for wider brims. If you’re short avoid large hats and go
for smaller structured creations.
So the hat hunt began at “Hattie’s” with my Mum, Avril (Mark’s
Mum) and me all hoping to find the final piece of the outfit jigsaw. We
were joined by Lucy, Joanne (Mark’s sister) and her 6 month old little boy
Theo. Avril and Jo have used the shop previously, so it came highly
recommended. Hattie’s home is a small ish shop in Stockton on Tees, which the 6
of us just about filled. The shop is packed to bursting point with all manner
of wonderful and colourful headpiece creations.
Lucy had commented previously, what a coincidence it was
that a lady called Hattie runs a hat shop! So being polite people, as we took
turns to be guided to try on hats for the big day, we all said “Oh that’s nice
Hattie” or “Thank you Hattie” as we were passed another hat to try. That was
until Jo managed to whisper to Avril, who then told Lucy that Hattie was in
fact called Dot. They didn’t manage to tell my Mum and me , so we both
continued to call the proprietor Hattie for the rest of our visit.
Now apparently, hats as we used to know then are now out of
fashion, and IN are hatinators. A bit like fascinators but with much more on
them! The good thing is that they sit on a band, so no fear of dreaded “hat
hair”. For anyone who really knows me they will understand that at times
like this, I sometimes I think I have entered a parallel universe.
Granny went first, and after a few “Oh no I couldn’t
possibly wear that” ....she was guided to a perfect hat for her outfit. Avril
was then assisted, and Lucy had a try on while she waited.
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| Sorry this is sideways but you get the idea of how colourful Hattie's was |
Then it was the turn of MOTB. My only requirement was that
the headpiece be big...given the etiquette advice, I am neither short nor tall
so reckon as long as the hat is not too tall or wide I should be ok. I tried a
few but wasn’t too keen, then tried one which contrasted with my outfit, and
was certainly big! All assembled including Theo said (well Theo
kind of gurgled) that it was perfect and with the promise from Hattie aka Dot
that she would add some hints of my dress material to match them up, we all
departed.
Excited at being able to tick something else off the
spreadsheet, I then shared the news along with a photo or two with some
friends...and then had a bit of a rethink. Brenda, on the phone practically
heading (no pun intended) for the airport was constructively positive. The
summary of her advice being that the hat is an accessory and not the main
attraction...so we agreed to have a session together when she gets back ( mid
October) to look for the perfect topper to the MOTB outfit. Not to say that the one at Hattie's isnt it.
Since then my friend , bridesmaid Kate’s Mum “Auntie Clare”
and I met up last Friday evening to have a quick view of the hats on offer in
Debenhams. Not many MOTB biggies but good to get ideas. Although I did suffer a major hot flush with all the fun, and had to tie my hair up to cool down!!
Then Clare suggested we
try the Get Smart shop at Blagdon’s Milkhope Centre.
So we met there on Saturday and had a good try on. This time
the posse included Lucy and Rachel, I had forgotten how entertaining these two
are together. As we looked around some of the other outlets, I was walking ahead
of them in a quaint craft type shop where some ornate bird feeders were on
display. I heard Lucy say, “What eats monkey nuts?”, as Rachel didn’t reply,
Lucy continued , “Squirrels? SO what eats monkey nuts?” Rachel piped up “ I
like monkey nuts but not in a thing like that”.....Oh to be blonde!
This hat visit was just for me to get more ideas.
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| The best view! |
The main lesson
to come from all of this is, you really do need the outfit on, and possibly the
shoes too – to ensure the full effect. So one step forward and two back, while
Auriole finishes the outfit, while the shoes are being dyed, while Brenda
gently tans in Greece – I can do no more for now.
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