Head Start To Finish

Ok, one more bit of hat magic. Here's a little extra sumptin' sumptin' to add to the post below. Watch a Stephen Jones hat go from theoretical to wearable. See it being hand made, beginning as a plastic covered wood form and winding up a sophisticated and distinct even-stitched top hat.

It's like on Sesame Street when they took you to the crayon factory, only with fancy chapeaus instead of wax kids' snacks.

Paper View

Brussels-based fine artist Isabelle de Borchgrave makes the most exquisite replicas of historical and contemporary clothing and shoes completely from handmade, handpainted paper. Her hand-crafted garments are incredibly detailed, accurate, delicate, and gorgeous.


These images barely do her work justice, but pick up a copy of Paper Illusions: The Art of Isabelle de Borchgrave from Amazon, or flip through an online catalogue of her work. The catalogue is in French, but the images of her paper mode translate perfectly. Having formerly worked in a paper making studio, I have the ultimate respect for her highly skilled craft. The paper lace is most impressive: whisper light, airy, and transparent, just like the real thing.