How to Use a Hat to Change a Daytime outfit to an Evening Ensemble

How to Style a Dress from Day to Night with a Hat and Fascinator

by Kathleen Lisson

My husband and I went on a daytrip to Boston this weekend and I needed a 'desk to cocktails' look for both daytime and evening.

First up, brunch with my family. I wore my Modcloth dress with a Chapeau Chateau hat from The Hat Shop in NYC and gloves from New York Vintage. 

We stopped off to spend a few minutes at the beach after dropping my Uncle Harry off at his home in Southie. 

A quick hat change for the Dedham Historical Society Spring Soiree! I love the look of this Marie Galvin fascinator. After the party, we stopped by the Town of Norwood. I have never visited there and one of my ancestors is on the town seal for his role in the Battle of Lexington.


Would you use a hat to switch  a daytime look into an evening outfit?

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Why Do People Wear Hats? - My 200th Post!

 What Happens When You Put On The Right Hat?

By Kathleen Lisson

Happy 200th Post! 

This is the 200th post on the That's a Pretty Hat blog! I have been sharing tips, expert advice and photos for a little over a year now and I would like to thank all my readers. Ladies interested in learning how to wear hats visited the That's a Pretty Hat blog over 20,000 times last month! The most popular post this month is a DIY post on How to Make a Fascinator.
I wanted to celebrate the occasion by sharing some hat wearing inspiration from NYC Milliner Ellen Christine!

How to Find the Right Hat

RunwayPassportTV recently interviewed my favorite milliner Ellen Christine. 

My favorite quote in the video is when Ellen Christine explains that "when a person puts the right hat on their head and looks in the mirror - it happens." She is talking about the 'magic' of revealing the person inside of ourselves that we have never given permission to come out. 

When I first put on Ellen Christine's 'Gigi' hat, that magic happened to me. Suddenly, there was a flirty lady in the mirror, one that could smile and laugh, confident in her beauty and ability to charm. 

Is there someone inside of you that could come out and play if you had the right hat on your head? What is she like?  

 The Youtube video is here: http://youtu.be/-yft5gZiSHM

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What Hat to Wear to Royal Ascot 2013 - Videos

What Hat to Wear to Royal Ascot 2013

by Kathleen Lisson

These videos from the official Youtube channel of Royal Ascot include several shots of ladies dressed to attend the races at Ascot - great inspiration for what to wear in the Grandstand, Furlong Club, Pavilion Club, The Bessborough Restaurant, The Parade Ring Restaurant and The Panoramic Restaurant. 

View the videos here:

What to Wear in the Grandstand at Royal Ascot 2013

What to Wear in the Furlong Club, Pavilion Club, The Bessborough Restaurant, The Parade Ring Restaurant and The Panoramic Restaurant at Royal Ascot 2013

Find out more about the Royal Ascot 2013 Style Guide here: http://thatsaprettyhat.blogspot.com/2013/03/what-hat-to-wear-to-royal-ascot-2013.html

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Junior League of Troy Ice Cream Social at Vanderheyden Hall

Junior League Ice Cream Social

by Kathleen Lisson

I coordinated my first Junior League project! 

The Junior League of Troy hosted an Ice Cream Social and over two dozen kids at Vanderheyden Hall participated. We collaborated with the Rensselaer County Dairy Princess and her court, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rensselaer County, Stewarts Shops and the New York Farm Bureau. It was pouring outside, so we held the event inside.

 Junior League of Troy members scooping Ice Cream at Vanderheyden Hall in Troy, NY

 
There were three rooms full of activities - in the refreshments room the kids could make their own ice cream sundae, try a fruit and vegetable smoothie and make ants on a log. 

In the game room, kids interacted with the Rensselaer County Dairy Princess, learning more about dairy through a trivia game and asking her questions about her life on her family's dairy farm. 

In the craft room, kids could share stories about women that inspired them. Over a dozen residents created a card to thank a special woman in their life. 

 Junior League of Troy volunteers

We even gave the children a tomato plant so they could start their own garden!

Founded in 1833 as the Troy Orphan Asylum, Vanderheyden Hall provides residential and community services to youth, individuals and families with educational, developmental, behavioral and emotional challenges.

This video explains the history of Vanderheyden Hall and what the organization does today to provide for the most vulnerable children in our community. 

My favorite part of the video? When Zhai said, "No one gave up on me."

Watch the Vanderheyden story here: http://youtu.be/NDPb8CPj0_M

Check out photos from the Junior League Christmas Party at Vanderheyden Hall here: http://thatsaprettyhat.blogspot.com/2012/12/junior-league-christmas-party-with.html

Linking with NotDeadYetStyle.com

What hat to wear to a wedding - Wedding Guest Etiquette

 What Hat to Wear to a Wedding

 By: Kathleen Lisson

If you are a wedding guest looking for great examples of how to wear a hat and dress to an upcoming wedding, Duchess Catherine provides an excellent example! 

The Duchess Kate blog provides an excellent selection of photographs of Duchess Kate at weddings in recent years. Visit the blog post here: 
http://hrhduchesskate.blogspot.com/2013/03/kate-loves-weddings.html

Visit my Pinterest board focusing on photos of Duchess Catherine in hats here: 
http://pinterest.com/khlisson/duchess-of-cambridge-kate-middleton-hats/


STV brought in a selection of different types of hats that are proper for a wedding, see their picks here:
http://youtu.be/X_hjE67w8yg

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Please share this blog with her - it will make her day!
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What to Wear to the Horse Races

 Spring 2013 Racing Fashion - Kentucky Derby 139

by: Kathleen Lisson

Arun and I stopped by the Saratoga Racecourse on our way to the Kentucky Derby party at the National Museum of Racing in Saratoga Springs, NY hosted by OTTB charity Old Friends at Cabin Creek.

Hat: Abigail Aldridge

Dress: (Modcloth) Ruby Belle Intro to Organza Chemistry Dress

Shoes: Modcloth

Purse: Charming Charlie

Pearls: Ross-Simons
Gloves: Amazon.com Pretty in Pink Nylon Glove with Floral Pearl Cuff

I love how the pink, purple and green look together. My inspiration? Flowers for a spring garden:

Learn more about the National Museum of Racing in Saratoga Springs in this video:
http://youtu.be/o0iU7dKzMmg

Click to see photos from last year's Kentucky Derby 138 party.


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Please share this blog with her - it will make her day!
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Sunny Day at the Troy Waterfront Farmers' Market

 What Hat to Wear to the Troy Farmers' Market

by Kathleen Lisson

Warm weather means the return of the outdoor Farmers' Market in Troy, NY. Arun and I filled my straw basket to overflowing with organic vegetables, gluten free bread and biscotti and fresh cheese.

Cyber Sam Statue, Troy, NY See more Uncle Sam Statues here.

 Then we went to Yonder Farms to pick out some fruit trees, and I found plenty of colorful outfit inspiration in the flower beds!

 Hat: Charming Charlie

Dress: (Modcloth) Emily and Fin Brunch With Buds dress in Ferns

Are your outfit choices sometimes inspired by nature?

Shared with Visible Monday, IFB Project # 94 and the upcoming nature-inspired movie EPIC.
 
Know a lady who loves to wear hats? 
Please share this blog with her - it will make her day! 

Want to feel inspired to wear hats?