Store Blog

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

With the dress rehearsals over Tart Boutique is finally ready to put on the main show and open the doors to her new permanent home next to the Arts Club Theatre on Granville Island. She will be opening her doors on Saturday, January 16th.

Created by Edie Orenstein, Tart Boutique was inspired by her open spirit, her enthusiasm for performance, and her love of beautiful things. Edie’s ethos is to provide a haven for the hedonist within us. She invites everyone to explore their sensual side and browse in a sumptuous and fun space. Explore the unique surroundings in a relaxed atmosphere. Satisfy your curiosities and indulge your senses.

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Tags: Edie Orenstein, Granville Island, indulge, Tart Boutique, Vancouver

An encounter with an elderly lady on an ordinary rainy afternoon in Vancouver sparked some philosophical thoughts on the lifetime of a hat.

Guided by her son, Phyllis – an eighty-five year old hat collector from West Van, dropped by with a very special delivery. Her husband had recently passed on and in the business of downsizing she decided it was time to let go of some old companions. She carried with her two worn but cared for hat boxes from Vanité – a store on Howe Street long gone. What emerged from the box were some well loved hats. She coyly showed me each exquisite piece with a distinct mid-century style. Unusual shapes, weaves, fabrics, feathers and ribbons each holding the secrets to different parts of Phyllis’s life. As she rustled through some tissue papers her eyes watered when she revealed the pink piece worn on the day she was married fifty-seven years ago. It was easy to imagine a giddy twenty-eight year old standing in that forgotten store on Howe Street, plunging into an unknown adventure.

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Tags: hats nostalgia Vanite vintage

When you have a favourite scent or cologne it becomes part of who you are. Like a great outfit, it can
make you feel powerful, confident, handsome and sexy. But like all good things, even scents have a
limited lifespan. These easy tips will help you get the most out of your signature scent.

If you find that your cologne doesn’t last long enough on your skin, try using a stronger concentration or combine layers of the same scent.

Cologne is the very lightest form of any scent. It has the highest concentration of alcohol so it disperses relatively quickly.

Eau de Toilette is slightly more concentrated – the ratio of perfume to alcohol is higher so while it is still a nice light way to wear a scent, it has more staying power than cologne.

Eau de Parfum is even more highly concentrated. This can be quite powerful and usually comes in an atomizer so that you can spray it in
a fine layer.

Perfume is the most concentrated form and is often very expensive. As
they say, “a little dab’ll do ya” – you really only need to use the tiniest amount. Perfume almost never comes in a spray. It would be
overwhelming.

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This Winter, Edie Hats is pleased to offer gorgeous new designs from I AM.

I AM is an extraordinary clothing company from Belgium. It began with
a revelation of the magical randomness of the moment of conception –
when the fastest swimming sperm fertilizes an egg and sparks new life.
It is because of that moment that we can say “I am”.

I AM has matured through the partnership of two women who design
and make clothes for women. Everything is custom made exclusively
to order – the tailoring, details, and fabrics are outstanding and each
piece is lovingly dedicated to the expression of being in all its
individual ways.

As Sven says of Maya’s designs, “When a woman wears something
from I AM, she should feel good in it, she should take strength from
it. Then we have succeeded in our mission. It doesn’t matter if she
is 20 years old or 60, if she is size 36 or 44”.

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If you are like me, there is not much in the world more intimidating than the perfume counter at a big department store.

If you are like me, there is not much in the world more intimidating than the perfume counter at a big department store. It’s not just because of the incredible mixture of scents hovering in the air, though that’s part of it. It’s all those choices, all those special words they use, all those ladies behind the counter that seem to have access to some alchemical secret that’s … well … secret.

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Tags: cologne, Edie Hats, fragrances, perfume, scents

Susana Erazo’s handcrafted leather belts turn any waist into a Hollywood hourglass. Her gorgeous designs, in wrap and buckled corset styles, are irresistible for holiday glamour.

Toronto-based Erazo is practically self-taught, gaining impeccable leatherworking technique by working for a fine leather furniture company. Inspired by the fine art of corsetry and the costume of classical ballet, she says that the ideal of perfect symmetry lies behind her corset belts.

Each individually crafted belt is a work of wearable art. Many are made from vegetable-tanned leather for beautiful tones of rich red, deepest black, and dramatic cobalt blue.

Perfect for any time of the night or day, try pairing a wide wrap belt with a long tunic or sweater and leggings. Match it up with a pair of striking high boots to really turn heads.

For evening, try a buckled corset belt with a simple little black dress for a sexy retro hourglass look. Pair it with a sleek pencil skirt and a delicate camisole for a stunning contrast in texture and feel.

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Tags: corsetry, costumes, Edie Hats, Granville Island, leather belts, Net Loft, Susana Erazo, vegetable tanned leather, wide wrap belt

By Harry

Mad Men character, Don Draper

Chasing fashion has never been more exciting, as designers like Michael Kors create new runway collections based on the hit TV series “Mad Men”. The design department for the award winning series has fashionable heads turning to an era in which women were elegant and feminine, men dressed in slim suits polished with skinny ties and pocket squares and would never be seen without a handsome hat.

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Tags: Biltmore, Bugatchi, cufflinks, Don Draper, Edie Hats, Fedora's, Mad Men, Magill Hat, Qortezan, Roger Sterling

Adorable animal hats and mittens from Delux have returned to Edie Hats this Fall! We’re welcoming a whole menagerie of zebras, raccoons, pandas, bunnies, puppies, giraffes, tigers and many more species of the cutest knitted hats and mittens you’ve ever seen.

Always a customer favourite, they are more than just a herd of pretty faces. Delux animal hats are manufactured in Nepal by a woman’s co-operative that is committed to equitable and responsible labour practices. Delux is making a huge difference in these women’s lives, enabling them to support their families with a reliable, competitive income. Delux even donates a portion of the proceeds from every animal hat to a local Nepalese orphanage.

These hats are already flying out of the store in flocks, packs and droves! Come in soon to take your own animal hat home or pick one up as a gift for someone special. They’re going fast!

View our Gallery of Delux Animal Hats on Flickr.

Edie Hats: A Passion For Hats
The Netloft, Granville Island
Vancouver, BC
(604) 683-4280
www.ediehats.com

Tags: animal hats, Animal mittens, Delux, Edie Hats, Granville Island, labour, Nepal

Of all the glamorous women in recent history, who understood the expressive power of personal adornment better than Josephine Baker?

To her audiences, she represented the exotic, erotic and forbidden.  She was famous both for what she wore and what she didn’t wear.  She continues to fascinate.  Her youthful vitality, the exuberant joy of her smile and her unabashed self-exposure made her one of the most alluring women of her era.

Look at how she accessorizes!  Here she is in a traditional top hat – the formal evening dress of a man of a defined race and social class.   The only time a black person wore a top hat was as a servant or an “entertainer”, stereotypes that verged on the comic during that time.  But here she is, an icon of wild femininity, breaking all the rules of class and gender and making a statement that is sensually and undeniably attractive.

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Tags: Accessories, Edie Hats, Granville Island, Hair Pieces, Hats, Head Pieces, Josephine Baker, Top Hat