It's All About the Hats

So, if you didn't know, my host mom makes hats. Not just any kind of hats; not your everyday sort of thing; these hats are special. In France, it's very popular to wear big, bright hats to weddings. And where do you think they get these lovely hats? Well from a hat maker...and that my friends, is the woman I live with...Odile

I've been interested in her work since day 1. I knew it'd be really interesting to live with a woman who made hats, but I never thought how fun it would be to get to actually see her in action. Yes, while eating my breakfast, I get to watch her intricately position the fabric into place or sew, or even put a hat on my head to see how it looks! She only recently started doing this actually. After dinner one night, I was saying how there was so many beautiful hats and headbands (that she had made of course) on the couch (when she finishes something, it usually ends up on the couch in the salon). She then brought me into the salon and started placing the different headbands on my head. I loved it! She then had me try on a hat, and her face lit up. I think that was when she realized that, yes indeed, I did have a hat head. I then obviously explained how my family always says I have a head for hats. From then on, I've been her model, and I don't mind a bit. On the left is a picture of where the magic happens...

Odile measured my head the other week. She put a hat on my head, so she could see what she needed to fix, then took it off and said, "now for your head" and held out measuring tape. I was shocked! "Moi?!" "but of course" she declared. Now, I don't know what this means exactly, but I'm thinking she may be making me a hat. I don't want to get my hopes up obviously, but why else would she measure my head. I'm hoping she doesn't just keep a record of head sizes of students she's hosted...no..it can't be that.

The hats she makes are not ones to be found in the US. They are also not hats that you would ever seen worn in the states. Well, maybe in the south where hats are a big thing, but even so. The only thing I can remotely compare them to in the US are hats that are worn at the Kentucky Derby. But still, some of her creations are so out of this world and creative that I can't even explain.

I asked Odile where she gets her inspiration, and to my surprise, it all comes from her head! Everything! She doesn't even draw what she sees in her head, she just creates. It's amazing seeing her work. I love coming home and seeing her new creations she's done that day. I always seem to notice the new things, and she's caught on that I have a good eye. I think she enjoys that I'm so interested in her work. By the way: there are hats EVERYWHERE and I LOVE IT.

Here are some pictures I took at her hat show. It was definitely a cultural experience--a fun one at that :)

Gotta Love the Hats!