Cocktail Hat: inspiration through mermaid dreams

Mermaids have been on my brain for a bit - especially lately.  

I suppose we can trace the birth of my mermaid love back to Splash.

Daryl Hannah, er I mean Madison and her crimped hair!  Her voice that busts out all those TVs?! Tearing into a lobster --shell first?! Her beautiful tail?! Ah.  I remember falling in love with this magical creature when I saw the video tape (!) of the movie...oh maybe when I was 5 or 6?  Then came The Little Mermaid. Oh, Ariel.  ah ah ahhhh, ah ah ahhh... (insert sound of her singing here).

Source: imdb.com via Mary on Pinterest

Since my introduction to mermaids I've tried, but never successfully figured out how to swim like a mermaid.  It's remarkable how graceless you feel trying to flop your body around underwater.  It probably doesn't help I still plug my nose underwater (don't comment on that, thanks).  BUT! I like to think I can mermaid jump/dive in/out of the water like a pro.  Though feeling and looking can be two very different things. Right?

WELL.

Anyway. I digress.  Let's get to the point, Mary!

Source: imdb.com via Mary on Pinterest

I wanted to share the finished cocktail hat that was born from all this mermaid dreaming.
(if you missed it, check out this behind the scenes shot as I pinned the lining) 

All of the outer fabric is upcycled (the cocktail hat's past life = blouses) and it has a fluttery, light feel that reminds me of something a mermaid would wear to an underwater tea party.
...fluttery flowers picked from a magical blooming kelp forest.
 

I see the hat as a 'something blue' wedding piece.  But quite honestly, I don't believe hats need be limited to super-special events, kwim?  This could be a romantic edition to a dinner out with friends with lots of layers on top with a thin chocolate 'boyfriend' cardigan mustard cords and bright aqua colored flats.  

And although folks might think about pastels more as a spring/summer thing - I can imagine this icy blue in the dead of winter: Icelandic mermaids need hats too. What do you think?

Kisses!
Mary

P.S. The hat is waiting for its forever home in the shop: shop it here.