Wear A Hat Day - Fun 'N' Frolic

Wear A Hat Day

24th March 2016

What is Wear A Hat Day?

Wear A Hat Day is a campaign set up by charity "Brain Tumour Research" in order to raise awareness of brain tumours and raise funds to move #CloserToACure. We at Fun 'n' Frolic completely support this cause and are willing to donate whenever a customer mentions the charity when purchasing a hat from us.

To donate please visit www.braintumourresearch.org/donate for more information.

A few suggestions

Here a few suggestions of what hat to wear on the 24th of March or you can simply visit www.funnfrolic.co.uk for the full range.

Fez Hat
Web Price: £2.79
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Gnome Hat
Web Price: £2.29
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Spanish Hat
Web Price: £3.49
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Viking Helmet

Web Price: £2.49
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Beret

Web Price: £2.79
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Beachcomber Hawaiian
Straw Hat
Web Price: £2.99
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In Memorial of Paul Daniels

We at Fun 'N' Frolic would like to dedicate this blog post to the late great Paul Daniels who passed away shortly after being diagnosed with a brain tumour. Paul was a visitor to our store on a number of occasions and we are saddened by his passing. Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.

Fun 'N' Frolic Ltd

Richfield Avenue

Reading

RG1 8EQ

0118 950 8597

info@funnfrolic.co.uk

www.funnfrolic.co.uk

Women's Hats Through the Years

1920s

The 'Clouche' style dominated the 20s, this deep-crown hat comes down low over the eyes and has either a thin brim or no brim at all.  Brims were usually utilised only on summer hats, where the brim acted as a visor from the sun's rays. 

1940s

Th wartime 40's saw a huge variety of hats that were suitable for any face shape, hairstyle or personal preference. There was explosions of decorations such as feathers, veiling and artificial flowers on the hats. The 'Doll' hat, a very small hat that perched on the very front of the forehead, revived Victorian styles. 

1950s

Many women chose not to wear hats on a regular basis in this era so the millinery industry set about creating variety and extravagance. The hats remained small and close to the head. They were now touted as the essential accessory to complete the ensemble. The 'Pancake' or 'Cart wheel' hats sat flat atop the head reviving turn of the century styles. The 'Lampshade' hat fashioned by Audrey Hepburn in 1957's Funny face features a medium-to-tall round crown, and a brim that flares outwards over the ears. 

1960s 

In the 60s the hair was bigger and it was the era of the mod, so small, round pill box made iconic by Jackie O were in fashion. 

1970s

Big floppy hat became a staple of the 70s when style icon Faye Dunaway and Bridget bardot beegan wearing them . Floppy hats were adorned with silk flowers and paired floral cotton dresses for garden parties or wide bands of ribbons and subtle hints of tulle gave a classy look to it.

For all the hats you want for your fancy dress, drop into our store or online: 

Checklist for the 1920s Flapper Look

The 1920s are remembered as the decade of the Flappers because after the constraint of the first world war, women became financially independent, went out to work, went out to parties and enjoyed themselves. To create the fun 1920s flapper look, we have put together a checklist of all the things you'll need:

 Dresses

The dresses of the 20s were long, drop waist, loose fitting, usually sleeveless or a v-shaped back and front. Many of the dresses were covered in beads or beaded fringe so that the movement of the fringe would swish and jingle while dancing the Charleston.  Here are some of the ranges of dresses in our store and online:

(1) 1920's Fringed Flapper Costume (2) Fever Flapper Hotty Costume (3)1920's Coco Flapper Costume (4) Flapper Costume Silver (5) Flapper Shimmy Costume (6) Flapper Costume, all at funnfrolic.co.uk 

Accessories played a key role in defining the 1920s look because without it, the dress would be simply a dress. The right accessories can make your look stand out from the crowd at any party or event.

Hats

The 1920's hats were all about the 'cloche', a hat shaped like a bell that is meant to be pulled completely over the head and down to the eyebrows.

Headbands 

Headbands are great to recreate the 1920s flapper look. Tie a thin scarf or satin belt around your head above your browline and knot it at the back or tuck in and add a feather if you like.

 Hairstyle

The hairstyle that reigned supreme in the 1920s were the bob hairstyle and the big decision many women faced of their hair was 'to bob or not to bob'. If you already have a bob hairstyle then you are half way done, however if you want to try a bob hairstyle without cutting it off then try a wig for that authentic 1920s look, we have a few ranges of bob hair and wavy flapper hair wig available.

If your hair is long and you don't fancy a wig then try a chignon. This means creating a low ponytail at the nape of the neck and twisting the hair into a bun shape that you can pin in place. Get all the information on how to create a 1920s hairstyle at howtohairgirl website.

 Shoes 

The shoes were sturdy with round closed toes and medium chunky heel. Kitten heels or stilettos were not invented yet. Go for a shoe with round closed toe and a t-bar strap or buckle for authenticity.

Illustration of 1920s shoes

 Jewellery 

Pearl necklace was a big thing, long strands of them wrapped in any length around the neck.

 Make up

source: Vintage Dancer 

 Handbags

Clutch purse was popular in the era as they used to only carry lipstick, powder and a small amount of cash. Materials for handbags were all sort of leathers and also steel mesh and metal boxes. Shoulder straps wasn't prevalent during those times.

Vintage ad on handbags 

So, if you want to dress up as a flapper for a fancy dress or any event, then get yourself down to Fun 'N' Frolic or you can browse all our ranges online:

Looking at the History of Pinata

Cinco de mayo is coming on Monday and being a bank holiday weekend, you can opt to celebrate it by breaking some pinatas. Why Pinatas? Because it is one of many tradition associated with Mexico.

However the pinata actually originated in China when Marco Polo discovered figures like cows, oxen and other animals decorated in bright paper and filled with colored sticks, and seeds which the people would knock them and burn the remains and gathered the ashes for good luck in the New Year.This custom passed through Europe, particularly Italy where it became a tradition of Lent and eventually spread to other countries around Europe and eventually to Spain. 

Originally, the pinata represented Satan. It was made to be bright and beautiful to lure innocent people into touching it and the candies, fruits and nuts inside represented the temptations of the Devil. The stick used to hit the pinata represented goodness to fight the evil. The person hitting the pinata was blindfolded to represented blind faith. Once the pinata broke and let out the goodies, the goodies represented just a reward. Then the pinata symbolized 'charity' because everyone got to share in the wonderful gifts and blessings. 

The Spanish then bought this tradition to Mexico, to be specific to the Aztec Indians through its explorers. The Aztecs willfully adopted this activity because it was strangely similar to a custom they already practiced. 

They decorated clay pots of their own and filled them with treasures to celebrate the birthday of the god of war and would beat the clay pot, which was strung in front of an image of the god of war, and the treasures would fall to the feet of the image as an offering to him. On the other hand, Maya Indians also used pinatas, but they blindfolded each other to make it more of a sport. 

Since the Aztecs and Mayas belong in Mexico, this tradition spread throughout the country and has evolved with pinatas being decorated differently according to different heritage and is mostly used as a fun activity for birthday parties and Las Posadas, the time to welcome the Christmas season in Mexico. 

Now you know the history behind the pinata, get your hands on one in store or online and celebrate cinco de mayo like no other. 

Not only pinatas, we also have sombreros , so come down to the store or buy it online. 

Straw Hats for Easter Bonnet

Easter is a week away, so if you or your children are thinking of wearing an Easter bonnet, why not get a start this weekend by buying your base: 

Straw Boater is perfect to decorate with flowers, chicks, bunnies or anything you  fancy, you are gonna end up looking great and once Easter is done, you can use it for school fancy dress. 

If you are gonna go adventurous why not get your hands on a sombrero or a beach hat, you can build a nest on top of it with your own flocks of chicks or even hold up a  ginormous egg.

 Here are some ideas we like:

If you need more inspiration, here are some wacky and wonderful bonnets from the New York Easter Parade: 

However you decide to decorate your bonnet, wear it proudly to celebrate the coming of new season and why not tag us in your photos in twitter. 
Follow us @FunNFrolicBerks

Happy Easter!