January’s Hat Attack is a collaboration with Irina Sardareva HERE, a talented Bulgarian milliner who I met on Instagram.  I love connecting with hat designers from across the world and discovering diversity of style and self-expression.  This has been an unexpected source of great pleasure.

Thank you to all who participate in sharing your “headwear expressions.” I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your love of millinery and your generous offerings. Happy New Year to all, and may your 2017 be filled with many magnificent hats.

“The red cap beret is inspired to transform a parade military cap to a peaceful and beautiful party beret. The base has the original shape of a Bulgarian army parade cap but is made in red instead of khaki green.  I added a sinamay bow and shiny red and black feathers to make it look more ‘parade’ and ‘burlesque’ so it can be worn at a party instead of a military parade.”….Irina Sardareva

Photos By Daniel

 Why I love millinery by Irina Sardareva

While living in a country under a totalitarian regime when I didn’t have a choice of what to wear, wearing a hat was a way to express myself and to be different. When the socialist regime fell at the end of 1989 I had 30 hats in my wardrobe. So passion became my job. I love it because you can express so many different feelings and statements wearing a hat; each one is a role you can play. When in my atelier I meet customers that say that hats do not suit them. I love to change their mind and seeing the excitement and happiness in their eyes when they see themselves in a mirror. I create everything with love because this is my way to send positive energy to people, and make every woman who wears my hats and fascinators feel happy and beautiful every day.

About Me By Irena Sardareva

I started my life journey as a hat designer visiting a hat production warehouse in Ukraine, in the early 90’s.  There I first discovered the love for this special accessory. I bought a couple of hats and came back to Bulgaria, starting my business as a hat retailer at the very beginning.  My next step was to start travelling across the country and finding the old and forgotten hat blocks in Bulgaria.  This was the moment when I really started designing hats. I then ordered  hat blocks from La Forme hat block atelier in Paris and started buying rabbit felt cones and capelines from Tonak and sinamay and parasisal from London and Paris. Year after year of hard work, I became the best hat designer in Bulgaria.

Now I am working with my son George, who inherits and keeps on with the millinery business and looks after our etsy online shop – www.IrinaSardarevaHats.etsy.com

Thank you Irina (with her granddaughter in the photo above) for your love of millinery, for collaborating with Style Crone on January’s Hat Attack and for your gifts to the wonderful world of headwear.

Linking up with Catherine’s #iwillwearwhatilike HERE at Not Dressed As Lamb and Patti’s Visible Monday HERE at Not Dead Yet Style.

Now it’s your turn to throw a little headwear my way. Give The SC a JANUARY HAT ATTACK and kindly link to Style Crone somewhere in your post. The link-up will be open through January 31st.

Anyone can participate in the celebration of headwear!  All you need is a URL, which can be acquired from Instagram, Facebook or your website.  All forms of headwear are appreciated:  hat, headwrap, headscarf, headpiece, fascinator, hair flower, headband or other adornment for your head that you enjoy.  Multiple photos are encouraged!
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27 Comments

  1. This hat of yours is breath taking. I would buy it immediately if I saw it.
    For this month’s Hat Attack I will upload my green beret hat.
    I am also going to check out Irina’s Etsy shop. But if there is one thing I learned, it is that a hat should fit properly. How do you know if it does when ordering online?
    Greetje

  2. Wow! I did not know about Irena and now I’m determined to seek out her art – thank you once again for sharing and inspiring me. Happy New Year!!

  3. Loved The story of The Bulgarian hatmaker! How inspiring. Love hats but sometimes a bit too Send conscious to wear themAs a very tall woman it makes me feel like a walking Eiffeltower but I Will work on it…who cares, right?

  4. Love this post…the story…the resilient spirits…and of course the designs. I will post my hats! Thank you for sharing!

    Happy New Year….

  5. Alas, I have no hat photos to upload but thank you for introducing us to these milliners! I love the mix of military and party that Irena incorporated into that gorgeous hat. The shape looks great from every angle, and of course, you wear it perfectly.

  6. I realise I say this often, Judith, but that is an exquisite hat. A statement of a millinery confection, and it looks spectacular on you. Happy 2017, my friend.

  7. This glorious example of the milliners art was surely designed just for you , it really is just superb on you. Thankyou for sharing the talented Irina with us , I have viewed her work, so tempting.

  8. This is one of my favorite hats you have worn so far! It is lovely but also so fun. Everyone looks so lovely on Hat Attack. I have to join in on the fun. Peace! Cheryl Tucker

  9. Thank you Judith for the great post – you look amazing wearing my parade beret and thank you ladies for the nice comments! It’s been a such a pleasure to be part of HAT ATTACK and you are always welcome to visit my Etsy shop! Have a great New 2017 Year!

  10. You wear every hat as if it’s your favourite Judith which is a wonderful testament to your passion. Thank you for another interesting introduction to a milliner of such talent – you seem to attract these entrepreneurs like bees to nectar!
    Wishing you a happy, healthy and peaceful New Year x
    Anna
    http://www.annasislandstyle.com

  11. It’s always such a treat seeing what new hat you are wearing Judith.

    I love that you are able to work with milliners all over the world.

    bisous
    Suzanne

  12. What a breathtaking hat but I have to say I can’t take my eyes off this amazing blazer. Is it vintage? Is it a designer piece? It suits you perfectly and it goes wonderfully with the hat.

    Happy New Year!

    wardrobexperience.blogspot.de

  13. Oh, I forgot to say … what a great idea behind your hat … I love it, if there is an actual idea behind a piece not just form, color and design. …I have family in Bulgaria, my Granddad came from there during WWII to Germany and met my Grandmother. He would have loved the story of the hatmaker.

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