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A style guide to dress like Jackie Kennedy in the 1960s. The first lady’s favourite accessories were her pillbox hat, gloves and pearls, but what else is essential to get her look? I’ll take you through hair and makeup and touch on Jackie’s hat designer Halston. Let’s open up the wardrobe and get started! Being a milliner, I made my own version of Jackie’s famous inauguration pillbox hat first: watch this video here: https://youtu.be/wj_xzdXD4wE

How to make a DIY hat block out of Plaster. This pillbox hat block is based on Jackie Kennedy’s Inauguration Day hat made by Halston in 1960. In this video I’m also blocking with wool felt – it’s easier than you think! Download your paper net pattern here: https://www.byilona.co.uk/product/jackie-kennedy-inauguration-pillbox-wire-frame-paper-net/

Following up from Balenciaga Exhibition Review video from two weeks ago, I’m looking at some milliners who were mentioned in the catalogue as working with Balenciaga. I’m illustrating their hats, as drawing is a good way to understand a design. This is part 2 of 2 videos, please watch part 1 for a fuller picture. Drawing other people’s hats is a learning opportunity. Once you’ve drawn a hat and thought about how it could have been made, leave it there – do NOT copy it and sell it as your own design. Please do NOT copy other people’s work and […]

Following up from last week’s Balenciaga Exhibition Review, I’m looking at some milliners who were mentioned in the catalogue as working with Balenciaga. I’m illustrating their hats, as drawing is a good way to understand a design. Drawing other people’s hats is a learning opportunity. Once you’ve drawn a hat and thought about how it could have been made, leave it there – do NOT copy it and sell it as your own design. Please do NOT copy other people’s work and carry it off as your own.

This week I’ve finally got my hands on the exhibition catalogue for Balenciaga: The Elegance of the Hat. This exhibition is on at the Museo del Disseny in Barcelona during these dates: 17 / 06 / 2021 – 03 / 10 / 2021. It features hats by Cristobal Balenciaga and this is my review of the items on display – specifically all the green hats! I also give a brief biography of Balenciaga.

In this video I’m going through all the tools in my blocking toolbox as well as all the other tools associated with millinery blocking. Please keep in mind, these are my preferred tools. You might not have these and this by no means is the absolute definitive list of what you must have! Perhaps I’m missing something that you think is absolutely essential, or maybe I’ve given you an idea about something you might now like to acquire. If that’s the case, please be kind, and let me know in the comments.