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Antonio Garcia - available at Edie Hats

The Cordobès Hat is a round, stiff felt hat which hails from the Cordoba in Spain. While originally it was popularised by workers for the shade provided by its stiff wide brim, it has very much infused itself into the traditional culture of Spain.

The Cordobès Hat in the elegant equestrian arts

Today it is an icon in many great Spanish Artforms – Flamenco, Bull fighting, Equestrian Arts and other traditional festivals in Southern Spain. The Hat has become an integral part of the pageantry and spectacle. Dancers use the Hat as a focal point in many routines and the Hat regularly appears in costumes and celebrations.

Flamenco Dancer performing with Cordobès Hat at Cafe de Chinitas in Edie Hats

21st Century fashion has finally recognised the defined aesthetic of The Cordobès Hat. Chanel is the latest couture label to celebrate its unique character. It is the rigid structure that creates a striking image that is both strong and romantic.

Chanel's S/S 2010 Campaign celebrating the alluring Cordobès Hat

Top hats, bowlers, pork pies and drivers all have their place in the Hat hall of Fame. But no hat is as iconic as the simple, stylish and sexy Black Fedora.

Black fur felt Fedora by Bailey

Originally worn by women, this hat was born an icon when it became an overnight sensation appearing on Sarah Berhardts famous head during an 1889 production of the play ‘Fedora’.

As cities grew in the early 20^th century, men adopted the hat for both its practicality and look. Black is considered more formal than an everyday grey and it did not take long for the Black Fedora to become synonymous with stylish and sexy.

Stars such as James Cagney, Humphrey Bogart and Frank Sinatra were quick to pick up on the cool and collected look of a Black Fedora, rocketing the hat into the hearts of urban dwellers everywhere. The trend continued into the 50’s and 60’s – the Black Fedora gracing the heads of musicians, film-makers, poets, artists, politicians and actors.

Experiencing a lull in the decade that style forgot, it re-emerged in the 80’s when the Blues Brothers, who know a thing or two about cool, established the hat as part of their signature image.

However, nobody has done more for the Black Fedora than one of the worlds greatest icons, Michael Jackson. He integrated the hat to his dance routines and style to such an extent that for younger generations this is their first association with the hat.

A recent resurgence in the hats popularity has seen women reclaiming it. A brim dropping casually over one eye is a look sharp enough to make men stop in their tracks. Black Fedoras are sexy and hint at the underlying confidence in the wearer.

The Black Fedora has become so entrenched into the psyche of popular culture it holds its place among blue jeans and the white shirt (which by a happy happenstance, all three go fabulously together!). Like everything timeless and stylish, no wardrobe is complete without one.

Click here to view us on Glabal National talking about the Black Fedora! http://www.globalnews.ca/video/index.html

Tags: Edie Hats, Fedora, Global National, Hat, icon, Style

Last night Edie Hats and Tart Boutique attended a fabulous fashion show at Obakki in Gastown.

This wonderful event was hosted by Ask a Woman Event Planning and all in aid of raising awareness for an exciting campaign in the fight against Breast Cancer. The premise of the campaign is this. C.B.C.F has earmarked 2020 as the year to eradicate Breast Cancer as a life-threatening illness. There is much exciting progress being made in terms of conquering this disease, but we need one final surge to finally lower the axe on it for good.

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Tags: Ask A Woman, Gastown, Hats, Obakki, Pamela Masik, Pret a Pour Tea

Among the many iconic hats on display at Edie Hats, a perennial favourite is the famous Akubra from Australia. 

Hugh Jackman as 'Drover' in the movie 'Australia' - wearing an Akubra!

 The Akubra Hat is a thoroughly authentic Australian Icon and no other product embodies the spirit of the country so completely. Born in 1874 in Hobart, Tasmania by an English immigrant who combined hat-making skills and an inventive nature to create hats that could withstand Australia’s varied extremities. With many different styles, Akubras are traditionally worn by drovers, farmers and essentially anyone who works outdoors. Like the wearers, these hats are tough and work hard in any environment.

Their versatility and strength comes from the many pelts of rabbit fur in each hat. Rabbits, a foreign species, have had a fiercely destructive impact on native Australian fauna and flora, which is why there are constant efforts to cull their growth. This lends to an easily sourced and widely available fur whose cultivation is actually beneficial to the environment. A typically practical Australian solution to an Australian problem!

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A quick glance around Edie Hats or Tart Boutique and one cannot miss the Mini Top Hats perched around the general fabulousness. 

They range in levels of extravagance, from simple fascinators and whimsical straw pieces to exquisite, elaborate felt pieces with veiling, feathers and ribbons. 

The Top Hat has always been associated with finery and elegance. Originally a symbol of wealth and high status, today the daily formal wearing of a Top Hat is considered excessive. However, in Pop culture it is a Hat that has re-invented itself to retain its place as a fashion icon.

British milliner Stephen Jones is largely responsible reviving this hat to suit modern tastes. He created a fun alternative to the original. By making the hats miniature and adding sparkle, feathers, veils and bows he turned the style on its head (pun intended!) making it a hat for women. His creations quickly became an extraordinary hit and are now a perennial favorite among England’s fashionable elite and are a fun stable at any formal event. 

The appeal of these hats is layered. They are formal yet playful, modern yet classic. We love them for the delight people get from trying them on and for the satisfaction fashionistas get from knowing the right dress to match them with!

Edie Hats: A Passion For Hats
Net Loft, Granville Island
Vancouver, BC | (604) 683-4280

Tags: Edie Hats, fashionable, formal, Granville Island, millinery, Stephen Jones, Top Hat, Vancouver

For years Kangol have been making hats that have famously been embraced by different cultural and generational divides. From military personnel to musicians, golfers, girl guides, rebels, rap stars, freedom fighters, footballers, princes, pop stars – all have an identity with the famous Kangaroo.

This diversity comes from its heritage, founded in the 1930’s by a Jewish immigrant from Poland in West Cumberland and initially sewn by French beret makers. Through sheer determination and adaptability the company survived several wars and economic crisis to become an international success story. While Kangol offers different styles, the ’504′  has become an icon. Named after the block upon which it was first shaped, it quickly became the companies most popular hat.

The word Kangol comes from the fabrics used, silK, ANGora, woOL. Kangol boomed in the US in the early 80‘s where they were known as ‘those kangaroo caps’ due to uncertainty over the brand name. This led to the company adding a Kangaroo as their logo, which today is one of the most recognizable logos in the world.

Kangol hats today retain an eclectic following due to simple, classic shapes that allow the wearer to create their own style.

Edie Hats: A Passion For Hats
Net Loft, Granville Island
Vancouver, BC | (604) 683-4280

Tags: Cap, Edie Hats, Fashion, Fedora, Granville Island, Kangol, Net Loft

The wearing of a fancy new hat on Easter Sunday is traditional in Christianity. Lent, the forty days of abstinence before Easter Sunday, is rewarded by feasts and the indulgence of new outfits. It is an old tradition, with a 15th Century Almanac stating that ‘if on Easter Sunday some part of ones outfit is not new, they will not enjoy good luck during the year’!

Today, the custom of wearing an elaborate hat on Easter Sunday can still be seen. New York’s Easter Parade on 5th Avenue can rival any day at the Ascots. On Easter Sunday the churches are full to the brim (pun intended!) of ladies in their finest and widest feathered and floral pieces.

At Edie Hats and Tart Boutique we celebrate this tradition with gusto! Pop by to dress up in our finery and take part in our annual Chocolate Easter egg hunt!

Tags: Bonnet, Easter, Edie Hats, Tart Boutique

Spring has arrived bringing with it a new line of colors and styles at Edie Hats and Tart Boutique.

Ladies, take note – simplicity. Details. Classic styles and shapes with a contemporary influence. Perennials such as the trench coat makes an always welcome return and our 100% cotton line are light, easy to wear and an essential piece to any urban wardrobe. Match with a cotton driver cap for an edgy yet sexy look. 

Abstract florals with a cute straw cloche for days at the beach. Bring the look into evening with a wide leather belt and some simple heels. For night, less is more and the naughtier this season the better. Underwear as outerwear. Depending on courage, a peeping strap or a full lace bodice or corset on display. 

Men, wave a happy farewell to flannel and welcome back sexy sophistication! Simple linen shirts with a funky straw pork-pie or Panama for day is a causal but stylish look. A Crisp Cotton Shirt is to men as Little Black Dress is to women. Match with jeans, khakis or funk up a suit for a very sexy style. Bugatchi offer a dynamic array of colors this season, in stripes, plaid and elaborate prints. Cuff links are a fun way to add some bling. Top off the look with an ever stylish Borsalino driver for a touch of old-school European class.

Tags: borsalino, cloche, Edie Hats, Fashion, Granville Island, Hats, Net Loft, Panama Hat, pork pie, Spring, Summer, Tart Boutique, Vancouver

Women understand the importance of taking some time and indulging in grooming, a routine that is about pampering yourself and taking pride in personal appearance. The average man will shave twenty-thousand times in his life. While many consider this a habitual daily chore, more and more men are re-discovering the art of shaving.  Every man should find some time in the morning to pamper himself with a pleasurable shaving routine.

Plastic and cheap shaving gear does not inspire any sense of indulgence, a gentleman deserves the finest quality tools.

Edwin Jagger from England hand-makes traditional shaving tools using skills only few craftsmen in the world have mastered. Their brush heads are made from pure badger hair, which is best for both holding water and exfoliating. The handles range from a Bentley inspired chrome finish to an expertly crafted ancient ‘Barley’ pattern. Razor handles are made from solid brass and will fit Mach 3, Fusion and Excel disposable blades. Along with these beautiful tools they also carry a line of natural shaving creams and soaps. Fragrances used are traditional, simple and masculine. Sandalwood, Aloe Vera and Sea Buckthorn, all cultivated organically and efficiently sourced where possible.

Men, enjoy the process. Your face will thank you, as will those who get close to it!

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The Panama Hats that brought the Sunshine with them…

The arrival of the famous straw hats in the store this week marked for us the end of winter darkness and a time to begin looking forward to sunnier, brighter days again!

Although indigenous to Ecuador, these hats became associated with Panama during the construction of the canal. Popular with workers because they were enduring and practical, it was Theodore Roosevelt’s visit to the canal site that introduced the hat to the fashion world, where it has been a staple ever since.

Weaving a Panama hat is a form of artistry, a skill learned from an early age and handed down over generations. Woven from toquilla plant leaves, the quality is measured by the number of weaves per inch – the higher the number the better the hat. The finest Panama hats, or the ‘superfino’ can hold water and when rolled will fit through a wedding ring.
A regular hat can be made in one day, but the finer ones can take many months to weave and have been known to sell for thousands of dollars.

Your Panama Hat should be stored in the bathroom, as the moisture prevents the straw from drying out. Like all hats, avoid holding it by the pinch as this will eventually degrade the hat.

Tags: BC, Edie Hats, Granville Island, Panama Hat, Vancouver