Where do you go for a vintage bridal hat restoration?
Many brides know the Old English rhyme:
something old,
something new,
something borrowed,
something blue
a Sixpence in your shoe
But what do you do if the “old” that you have your heart set on, is the Juliet Cap that your grandmother wore at her wedding and it isn’t in pristine condition?
Fortunately, there are still a few of us left who can work miracles. We are classically trained milliners. A few weeks ago, a bride contacted me with this scenario. She and her mother had discovered the Juliet cap that her grandmother had worn at her wedding. There were several dents in the cap and the veil was torn and falling apart. They wanted to know if it could be resuscitated (my word not theirs.) The timing was a key factor as the wedding was a few weeks away. On top of that, they live on the West Coast and my shop is on the East Coast.
The first thing that needed to be done was to ascertain the extent of the damage. They provided pictures from different angles so I could have a better sense of what was involved and let them know if a hat restoration was even possible. After looking at the pictures, I recommended repairing the dents, reattaching the trim, and replacing the veiling.
What the Julliet Cap looked like when they discovered it.
The Steps Taken for the Vintage Bridal Hat Restoration
Because the timing was tight for the bridal hat restoration, the first thing that needed to be done for the bridal hat restoration was to find a veil that was similar to the original. It would take a few days for the veiling to arrive even with expedited service so that needed to be done immediately. Part of any vintage hat restoration is having a solid understanding of the materials used at the time. I knew that it would be next to impossible to duplicate the veil because the original was made from silk and veiling today is made from nylon. This information needed to be shared with the client before undertaking any vintage hat restoration. I explained the situation and offered possible hat restoration solutions. We agreed that I would focus on finding a veil close in color to the original. After contacting my supplier, luck was on our side.
With the new veiling ordered, I removed the old veiling to better assess the dents. Parts of the Juliet Cap could be steamed but too much steam would cause the lining to separate from the buckram and cause other problems. I carefully applied the steam as the next phase of the vintage bridal hat restoration, and gently removed the dents from the Juliet cap. After the dents had been smoothed out, the bridal cap needed to be placed on a block and allowed to dry. This would allow the buckram to set in the new shape. I let it dry overnight just to be safe. Only then could the cording along the edge be repaired and the new veiling attached with tiny hand stitches.
I can learn so much working on many hat restorations over the years. There are construction methods and millinery techniques that reveal themselves as I peel apart the layers of a vintage hat. At times it can feel like solving a mystery. I need to restore the hat while maintaining the original essence. If I go too far, I can destroy what needs to be saved.
Best of all, there is something almost magical about a vintage hat restoration. It’s about being able to breathe new life into an old hat. Their hat is so much more than a simple hat. These hats hold memories of special occasions, milestones, and loved ones.
