Be bowled over!
Fashion
70 » pink weddings magazine
Philip Wright explains the
importance of topping off
your outfit in the right way…
CONGRATULATIONS
on your forthcoming
special day – and now the excitement and the angst of all
the arrangements, the planning, the family, the guests,
your partner – and not forgetting yourself, of course!
Should there be a theme? Should it be simple? The décor,
the catering… oh and what to wear..?
After all the thought and effort that you will put in to
make the day perfect for everyone, remember it is you and
your partner who are centre stage. It is
your
commitment
and
your
statement and while you are most definitely
going to feel the part, it is also good to look the part and
take this opportunity to celebrate and emphasise
yourselves by your clothes. Dress to the occasion! And be
in harmony and symmetry with your other half.
So now my question: hat or no hat? Elegant or edgy, a
hat makes the look complete. Encourage your guests to
think about what they are also going to wear and have
some fun planning.
There is a hat for every face shape, body shape, and
style of clothing – unless tiaras are the chosen
headwear… but then someone has to wear the crown!
In general, when you look at the face, the crown of the
hat (that’s the big bit on top of the brim) should be at a
width in line with the top of the jaw line at the brow, and
the height should be in balance with the length of the
face below the brim. A crown that’s too shallow, if not
compensated by the brim at an angle, will make the body
look short. If the crown is too wide, then ditto. And if the
crown is too narrow, it will make the face look long.
The brim, unless you are wearing a ‘pill box’ or Breton,
usually wants to be at a slight angle, in symmetry with
the line of the eyebrow. This enhances the eyes and bone
structure of the jaw and neck. If worn horizontally (with a
few exceptions,
eg
a cloche) then it will emphasise the
vertical of the nose and horizontal line of the eyes making
the wearer look severe, like the effect of wearing the peak
of a military cap. In most cases it is more flattering to
wear the brim forwards on the head – not covering the
face, but perhaps obscuring an eyebrow. (A ‘pork pie hat’
at the back of the head is cool, admittedly… but that’s
because the brim curls up in a ‘Breton style’.)
And now the ‘theme’. What would you like to be
remembered wearing? Who are you inside? What style
does it for you? You have to feel comfortable, but also
know you look damn good for your partner. A hat may
feel odd, if you are not used to wearing one, but the hat
should not wear you. So get used to wearing it before the
day arrives. Where you might have felt a little self-
conscious, with a little practice you will be so used to it
that you won’t feel awkward. You’ll just look stylish and
be ready to enjoy the compliments.
So will it be a ‘classical look’ – whatever that is? Or
maybe vintage – perhaps with a bit of ‘Downton’ in the
mix? Fifties? Seventies? New Romantic? Goth?
Burlesque? The hat can be essential to the costume –
imagine Suggs without his pork pie; Greta Garbo
without her fedora; Sinatra without his trilby; Alex in
A
Clockwork Orange
without his bowler; Kevin Rowland
without his cap… Audrey Hepburn, Quentin Crisp, the
Four Musketeers, Churchill, Princess Di, the cast of
Chicago
… ok! Enough already!
Whatever you decide, have a wonderful day – and
through the ups and downs, keep the happiness of the
moment as fuel in your heart for all time. And if you
decide to serve your champagne in paper cups… then you
can wear paper hats! Have fun!
‘There is a hat for every
face shape, body shape,
and style of clothing...’
