Okay, so it feels like ages because it actually is ages since I’ve written a blog post, but this doesn’t mean I haven’t been writing; in fact, I’m excited to announce – I am writing a book.
Yes, last year I made the commitment, not only by saying it out loud, (which is bloody scary in itself) but I also committed with an accountability group and a plan.
Serendipity stepped in and introduced me to these gorgeous ladies, who are also writing, from New Zealand and Queensland; so we seized the intro and made a commitment to keep each other accountable to writing our books, and it’s been a game changer!
Sarah, Alex & Flic
We’ve never met in person, but my gosh, I look forward to each Friday, when we meet on-line to write.
The other exciting update is I have launched my Meet the Milliner, Studio Experience in Broome.
For years people have asked if they can drop in to meet me and see the studio and the collection, and although I’ve always tried to make this happen, these last minute requests are not always possible. So now I have a system to book this visit when you are planning your trip to Broome.
Love this group of fabulousness!
I’ve created a really lovely experience to share from my backyard studio. And yes, of course we can have a little glass of bubbles. Why not?
Here’s the link and feel welcome to share this with any friends of yours coming to Broome.
And now for my collection update … and without getting too bogged down in the story of my delayed start to creating this year’s millinery magnificence, I’ve had some forced time out of the studio, thanks to white ants coming up through the cement floor. They also got into my vacuum cleaner which gave me one hell of a ZAP!
In addition to the ant issue, I also had the mystery of something running amok in the studio of a night, opening the door each morning to foam heads, hats and headpieces strewn across the floor. I had no idea what was going on but when I opened one morning to find my beautiful blue bottle smashed all over the floor and hat boxes tumbled from their stack, I decided to climb the ladder and block the small holes into the ceiling where my mystery mate must have been coming in through from the roof; it was either that, or I had a ghost. But I’ve since seen this cheeky monitor looking most displaced, so I think my ghost of a culprit was this goanna, who apparently doesn’t mind a termite or two.
On the Studio door!
Honestly – only in the Kimberley!
Subsequently, my millinery collection for 2024 is off to a most delayed start, so I’ll see how I’m going over the next few weeks, and confirm the date of my collection reveal.
If you’d like to be kept updated about the Book, the Experience, the Collection and more, subscribe to my Milliner on the Move blog and sign up to my Hats by Felicity website mailing list – these two sites are from where the updates will come.
I won’t clog your inbox, I’m way too busy creating millinery to be sending dozens of emails …
As for the milliner on the move’s inspiration for creation, (apart from ghosts, termites and lizards), there is a pretty amazing trip in the plan, deep into the Kimberley, – I’m already excited to design and create a collection inspired from this amazing part of the world.
Till next time, have a fantastic day, keep smiling and keep your eyes out for rogue bungarras.
When I was born apparently mum and dad disagreed on my name.
Dad wanted Kelly, but Mum won with Felicity.
The dictionary meaning for felicity is intense happiness.
I’ve always known that hats bring happiness – this is why I do what I do, and why I named my millinery business Hats by Felicity. To me, it’s about so much more than the hat, it’s about what the hat does – how the hat (or headpiece) makes you feel.
Sometimes, I can’t help feeling that my business and I, are both very aptly named, especially when I see photos like this, from my recent runway launch (it completely cracks me up)!
The crowd, the models and a very excited me – Hats and Happiness – captured by Laura Gass Photography
What a way to kick off the Broome Pride 12 day festival of Mardi Gras events.
For three years now, I have launched the Crown Jewels at Broome Pride’s Launch event and I couldn’t be more thrilled.
As Milliner on theMove I gathered the inspiration for this collection from around the world; from New Orleans, Sydney, Far Western NSW, the Kimberley and my favourite TV series of the moment, Yellowstone.
As Milliner to the Queens I launched the collection to an energetic full house, by runway parade at the Roebuck Bay Hotel, Broome.
Crown Jewels III is a collection of Mardi Gras hats and masks, showpieces, and race-wear millinery for those who like to take it up a trackside notch.
The Broome Pride Launch Party officially launches the Broome Mardi Gras festival of events, which is now in it’s 9th Year.
What started as a one night event in a seedy nightclub, is now a two week festival that lines the airport with private jets and fills the town with business, colour and fun; and impressively, is powered by volunteers and the brainchild of one woman, Lucy.
So, what is Mardi Gras and where did it come from? Well, originally, in New Orleans in the early 1700’s, Mardi Gras was a masquerade parade occurring on Fat Tuesday, which is the last day before Lent.
Mardi Gras started as elegant society balls, then as a carnival, and by late 1830’s New Orleans held colourful street processions organised by Masked Krewes, who remained anonymous to the crowd.
New Orleanians call these Mardi Gras parades the “Greatest Free Show on Earth”
A Krewe (pronounced crew) is the social organisation that stages the parades and balls for the Mardi Gras celebrations.
My own trip to New Orleans in 2015 inspired a few pieces of my latest collection, Crown Jewels III, including this mask, that I named De Lis, honouring the said New Orleans masked Krewes.
Hats by Felicity – De Lis – modelled by Aimee
Sista too was inspired by New Orleans, as the gem of the carnival who steps out with a POW under the lights of Mardi Gras.
Hats by Felicity – Sista – modelled by Rachael
Poppae represents the true carnivale’ of Mardi Gras, inspired by the colourful streets of New Orleans and the spark of travel itself. She’s all about the excitement of exploring the world, and living life to the full. And she’s made of pom poms which are SO right now.
Hats by Felicity – Poppae – Modelled by Amanda
And our Fifi de Fleur, who floats through the crowds as the colour of the Mardi Gras parades.
Hats by Felicity – Fifi de Fleur – modelled by Jenny
Not all the collection was inspired by New Orleans. Beth’s inspiration comes from Yellowstone, OMG is anyone else as addicted as me?
We all know I love the country, but let’s talk about Montana, USA, cowboys, and big hats. Take me back is all I can say ….
Beth’s pheasant coucal feathers have a story, as all my feather pieces do, arriving to me in a bag with the words Happy Birthday from my mate Mal, who had gathered up the feathers, strewn from a bird that had come to grief.
Always keen to give the feathers another flight, I cleaned and preened and returned them to their glory, and mirrored their construction as the two faces of our Beth, who’s character we are both endeared to and scared of, at once.
Hats by Felicity – Beth – modelled by Rachael
During my recent trip to NSW I was treated to a bucket list New Year’s eve fireworks, onboard the Riverboat Postman.
Three pieces were created as a result of this magical night on Sydney Harbour – inspired by the fireworks, and created also to represent my Sydney experience, as a now Kimberley girl, circling back to where my adventure began all those years ago, in NSW.
Canta, which means to sing, was inspired by the pure vision of the Opera House that night; not to forget the sound of Australian born, Nashville-based country singer, Morgan Evans, performing at the Opera House as we cruised on by.
We were one of the few boats with a band onboard that night – Middle Earth sang as we wove in and out the boats on the harbour – who were all so very jealous, of course.
Pictured below is Canta, modelled by Aimee and with my inspiration for the creation, the Sydney Opera House.
Back in the Kimberley, with it’s endless inspiration, I created Min-Min with her flashing lights, and Crystal, inspired by the cirrus cloud that streaks crystals by the wind; and many more pieces to showcase Crown Jewels III.
In every collection I launch, I honour the trade of millinery by including a vintage hat that I’ve restored and included my own slant to, and Hawthorne is the restored beauty of Crown Jewels III.
Hats by Felicity Hawthorne – modelled by Grace
I could share these photos and yarns all day but I’d probably crash your device, so, to further meet these and more creations and their inspirations I invite you to view the collection by clicking to Hats by Felicity Crown Jewels III.
Now, we all know there wouldn’t be a Crown Jewels runway without the sass and stage fun of these sensational models, from The Hangar Broome. They are absolutely delightful, and I thank them all; AND she who captures them, and all the hats and happiness, the talented Laura Gass Photography.
And I can’t thank Lucy and Broome Pride Incorporated enough, for the honour of showcasing and being part of this Broome community event.
Broome Pride is a non for profit organisation, organising and promoting inclusive events for the LGBT community.
Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parades have been growing since the first bold protest march in the early 1970’s, and Broome Mardi Gras Festival of Events joins the now worldwide celebrations and in particular, echo’s the Mardi Gras of Sydney, which this year is hosting WorldPride.
Once upon a time, February and March were when we flew out of Broome, now, thanks to one woman’s dream and commitment, a community coming together, sponsors, and an extensive program of Mardi Gras events, people are flying in.
Have you booked your trip to Broome?
Keep smiling and perhaps I’ll see you here, one day soon.
It was after a few beers with my brother, Billy, when the idea came to me. We often have a yarn and a few ales over the phone – living on opposite sides of the Country, it’s how we keep in touch. This particular time he’d mentioned a woman he met who was working with Sydney’s Mardi Gras. She’d been surprised to hear I was a milliner in Broome, and looked up my instagram.
That was pretty much the conversation – but in my sleep – my never resting, always busy sub-conscious mind came up with a plan, and the next morning I awoke with huge excitement; – I was going to create millinery for Broome’s Mardi Gras – I was going to become the Milliner to the Queens.
Busting to tell my house guest at the time, Margaret, I followed her around the kitchen, as she was still wiping the sleep from her eyes, blurting my Mardi Gras plan that Hats by Felicity would create for rural and regional women, AND Queens.
I was designing creations that day for a few little here I am pieces to enter the industry. I was SO pumped to have realised another outlet for my creative trade. With the demise of race-wear millinery due to covid, I had pivoted into bridal, launching my bridal collection in January, and now it was time to start creating for Mardi Gras.
Previously, when I created for the runway of New York Fashion Week, I was in my absolute creative element, but until now, I hadn’t realised a market for these elaborate creations. I was back in the creative zone that I had experienced for my international shows.
Hats by Felicity – New York Fashion Week SS2017
In it’s 7th year, the Broome Mardi Gras is a week of events bringing our little town together and alive, in what prior to Mardi Gras, was a terribly oppressive time of the year.
The heat is still here, don’t get me wrong, but now it’s lathered by glitter.
Broome is blooming in February, – our hotels are filling as the week unveils, the restaurants are booking, the positive economic impact is nothing short of invigorating – there’s literally dozens of events, from story time with children, to makeup with teenagers and the Cabaret, the Dance party, the pool party – bingo, breakfasts, the list goes on.
Broome is alive – and I am thrilled to be part of the excitement.
Lucy from Broome Pride, the woman behind the organisation of events, heard I was creating this collection and invited me to showcase at the “Pride Tide” gin launch event, Saturday 13th February.
The timeframe was the shortest I’d ever created to and for a runway collection, I needed materials – I needed ‘bling’ and the response to my call out was phenomenal – it made my heart sing. Friends, The local Broome Aqua ladies, Sun (Dance) Studios Broome, The Chamber of Commerce and Regional Arts WA filled my studio with bling.
I locked myself away for the short few weeks and created a 24 piece collection that unveiled on the runway of the Roebuck Bay Hotel outdoor venue, as part of the launch of Moontide Distillery’s new gin.
The “Pride Tide” Launch featured the launch of the Hats by Felicity “Crown Jewels,” and I couldn’t be more excited, thankful and proud.
Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better – the local pole dancing troupe were available to model my creations.
“Can we get out our sass” they asked? “Oh my Lordy yes”, I said.
There was no better way to officially launch as the “Milliner to the Queens,” than with the “Crown Jewels” collection paraded by local models filled with personality and sass, showcasing to a capacity local crowd, at an outdoor venue in Balmy Broome, filled with colour, shimmer, sweat and fun.
Enjoy the footage of the launch and if you know any Mardi Gras Queens, and fun-stars who love to get amongst the February Mardi Gras festivities, share the launch around. My “Crown Jewels” collection is now officially unveiled, launched and available, and there’ll be more glitter to come over the years.
Photography by Laura Gass Photography | Footage by Lana Reed Productions | Thanks to Moontide Distillery, The Roebuck Bay Hotel and Broome Pride.
I feel a bit of a fraud to be the Milliner on the Move, and not be on the move, but who would ever have guessed the world would stop travelling.
This time last year we had no idea what chaos lay before us and I certainly had no foresight that I’d enter 2021 as Broome’s Bridal Milliner, but here we are, pivoting our way through the chaos that is covid 19, and with complete acknowledgment of the seriousness of the virus, from a personal business perspective, I have to say, I’m grateful for the opportunities that presented to me in 2020.
On an average year I would create up to 100 pieces, however in 2020, I created three. One for Darwin, one for Gasgoyne Junction and one for Ascot Perth, and these made my heart sing.
The gorgeous Georgie, Dawin, NT
People would say to me “you must be loving all this time to create,” but what many don’t realise is it’s not just about time, it’s about creativity and to be honest, from March 2020, I completely lost my mojo.
This isn’t to say business came to a halt, in fact, it was quite the opposite – I went into overdrive with business development for both Hats by Felicity and an entirely new business concept called The Homestead Hub, and it wasn’t until I realised the latter, that my creative mojo returned.
Bridal was always an area of millinery that I reserved for friends.
Abbi, Broome, WA
Kylie, Broome, WA
Renee, Broome, WA
Each time I worked ‘on’ my business, bridal appeared in the notes but I always managed to keep it veiled, that is, until now.
Fast forward to 2021, and to the world that is, and I couldn’t be happier or more excited to enter the year formally launching my first Hats by Felicity Bridal collection.
Like all businesses, there are changes for Hats by Felicity – working closely with clients on a one to one basis in my little Broome studio is now something of the past, but as a milliner creating for rural, regional and remote women, regardless of where you reside or whether you are an impending bride, or off to the races, – I will continue to create collections of one-off, unique and beautiful creations, and present these collections as a continual showcase, available for sale on my Hats by Felicity website.
To keep informed of new creations and my creative business directions, I encourage you to like and follow Hats by Felicity Instagram and Facebook, to subscribe to my Hats by Felicity newsletter as well as this Milliner on the Move blog, and if you’d like to be in that private space, and the first to know about new releases and informative hat related teachings, stay tuned for the new Hats by Felicity private Facebook Group.
My millinery’s creative calendar will go something like this – January is the launch of my bridal collection (yay and thank you for your awesome support).
February will introduce another exciting millinery direction and collection – double yay; and from March I will focus on the 2021 race wear millinery collection, with the most positive of vibes that regional races will return.
Thanks for continuing to support my little business over the past year – even without me creating a collection. Your liking, sharing and engaging in conversation with Hats by Felicity kept my business alive and my spirits high, and for this I thank you.
millineronthemove 