Fashion Studies Students Try Their Hand at Hat Making

Students were tasked with making five hats out of various materials including buckram, felt and straw. They started with the block form method which involves constructing a mold for the specific shape the milliner would like the hat to take and then shaping dampened pliable felt or straw onto the mold and drying it under tension to lock in the form.  
Students used fashion design principles to develop pleasing and functional shapes and structure for the body, brim and interior of the hats. They were shown how to properly line the inside of a hat as well as multiple embellishment techniques involving feathers, beading, embroidery, trim, ribbons and other materials. 
The last class included a Hat Salon and Stroll where final projects were on display and students had a chance to wear their creations on a jaunt around campus.

At Reimagined: Old Hollywood, the annual student fashion show, the top hats (no pun intended) were displayed in the lobby as well as worn by professional models and coordinated with student-made garments.

FAS 245 Special Topics Fashion Design: Hat Making is taught by talented fashion designer and local milliner Bill Makela.