Last night, after getting all dressed up to go to the Henrietta's Eye show at Belfry (if you're in Seattle, go see it!), I finally had to admit the truth: my standard top hat? The heavy wool "caroler/Mad Hatter" style top hat that I wear all the time? It's too heavy for me nowadays, and wearing it causes my neck and shoulders to hurt to the point of headache triggers.

DAMMIT.

Am I giving up top hats? Fuck no. I am, however, stalking a couple antique silk top hats on eBay, because I know from experience that they're much lighter in weight than the wool ones.

So the current plan is get new-to-me silk top hat, spend an evening decorating it, and continue telling the steampunks to get their grimy mitts and goggles off of my hat. ::grin::

(Dear steampunky people, you know I love you. But the proliferation of top hats with goggles GLUED to them makes me twitch just a bit.)
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ashbet: (Electric Blue)

From: [personal profile] ashbet


Good luck finding a lightweight one! (I sympathize -- I had to give up my fake hair for similar reasons, when the TN got bad.)

If you don't find a vintage hat, I know that [livejournal.com profile] christalblu could make an amazing one to your specs! :)

*hugs*

<3!

From: [identity profile] staxxy.livejournal.com


can the usual top hat be modified to make it lighter? I know that your hats tend to have a lot of things added to them. Perhaps switching out decorations might help?

and also, you are under a phenomenal amount of stress right now. I suspect that is contributing to the heavy hat triggering migraines. too much tension already existing in your neck and shoulders, and the added weight on top of that is too much. It's a thought anyway.

From: [identity profile] cupcake-goth.livejournal.com


Taking the assorted floof off the hat won't make a bit of difference. The usual wool top hat weighs almost 2lbs on its own, and the ornamentation is always ... feathers. Veiling. Not heaps of beads. :)

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU MEAN ABOUT PHENOMENAL AMOUNTS OF STRESS.
::laughs a trifle hysterically, contemplates adding a shot of bitter cocoa vodka to the tea::

From: [identity profile] kambriel.livejournal.com


You mean like this? ;)

https://www.etsy.com/listing/170717324/antique-black-silk-collapsible-top-hat

I know it's pricy, but actually less than many I've seen in far more worn down condition. (I managed to find some in an old European collection that are basically still mint condition ~ even with the original hat boxes!)

I've worn your wool hat in question and had the same experience with it ~ it really is too heavy to comfortably wear. I *heartily* recommend the antique silk versions ~especially~ if they are also collapsible. I'm basically determined to always travel with one now.

From: [identity profile] cupcake-goth.livejournal.com


Heh. Yes, my darling sister, like that one. Your Etsy listing is my back-up plan. :)

So it isn't just me turning into even more of a delicate moonflower? I always suspected the hat was perhaps heavier than I should be wearing, but last night really made it clear.

From: [identity profile] kambriel.livejournal.com


Email me if the one you're stalking falls through :) (And I really do need to get my other close-up photos of that hat up sometime... just realized I hadn't done that yet.)

Nope, you're a powerful moonflower ~ I specifically remember how heavy it was. Being prone to headaches, I'd especially recommend a lighter version. You know (cunning plan)... if you sold the wool one, it might help pay off a silk replacement. You're be more than welcome to use the portrait from the 11-11-11 shoot if it would be helpful in displaying/offering it. I should have a hi-res version on hand ~ just let me know :)
Edited Date: 2014-11-08 12:41 am (UTC)

From: [identity profile] cupcake-goth.livejournal.com


The first one fell through, but I've got one more back-up auction to keep an eye on. :)

(I need to email you anyway. Stuff! I miss you!)

From: [identity profile] kambriel.livejournal.com


Kindred spirits! Was ~just~ thinking of you when your message came in :)

From: [identity profile] oldhalloween.livejournal.com


Supposed to be wearing mine tomorrow with my birdcage skirt. Have the same problem with hat and 2 hair pieces. Not sure my neck can take it. Sigh.

From: [identity profile] luveday.livejournal.com


as one of the "steampunky" people, it also vexes me when people destroy things by just hot gluing a bunch of gears to perfectly wonderful items, especially hats. True millinery artistry comes from hand sewing the items on :-)

(and on the subject of heavy hats, I have a lovely leather riding hat that I should wear more often, but find it's weight rather heavy)
.

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