The 101 Ranch Hat

Back around Christmas, in our shopping travels, my husband and I happened upon Colorado Mountain Hats, a custom hat maker. I probably would have never considered having a hat made (they did mostly cowboy hats), but my husband has wanted a hat like Wyatt Earp wears in Tombstone for ages, so we stopped.

Well, once I saw how the hat maker fitted you, I had to join in on the fun!

They start out with this fantastic machine that looks like something out of Jules Verne. It's a 19th century head measuring device. They still use the original because, like with so many things, the old way is just best!

A paper gets placed on the top of the device, then the top is closed (the cork piece) to hold it in place. The device gets placed on your head and the shape of your head displaces moving pieces inside the "hat," pushing corresponding pins through the paper into the cork.

Et voilà! The paper becomes your head pattern, which the hat maker then uses to recreate your head in his shop, to fit your hat to. I think he said they use a second antique machine to "read" the paper.

So what did I pick? Well, he had a lovely assortment of historical styles to chose from. I ended up picking a style copied from photos of the 101 Ranch Girls, who, in short, were performing cowgirls, from the 101 Ranch in Oklahoma. The 101 Ranch was a working ranch that did a show, much like Buffalo Bill's, around 1905. What with Edwardian cowgirls being a bit of a passion of mine, I thought this style was perfect!

And so we waited and waited for our fabulous hats to come, and they arrived this week! And, of course, it fits like a glove!

I can't wait to have an excuse to don my split riding skirt, some big Gibson girl hair, maybe a horse or two, and take some awesome pictures! :)

For a look at the 101 Ranch girls, and other inspiration for the hat, take a peek at my dedicated Pinterest board. 

Gibson (Cow)girl

Howdy!

With all the horseback riding I have been doing lately, I've been quite inspired with the old west. I was browsing good ol' Pinterest recently and came across a bunch of great old cowgirl photos. I totally fell in love with the late Victorian/early Edwardian ones. Think Annie Oakley. Very stylized cowgirl. Very cool. 

Annie Oakley

There was a Southern Nevada Living History Association event at the Old Mormon Fort yesterday and I took the opportunity to finish up my riding bloomers (skort, pretty much...) and get down there to take some good photos. What an appropriate backdrop! I owe photo credits to the talented Lisa Coffey.

This was a really fun and easy outfit to put together. I went for like 1905ish. The pants are a Truly Victorian pattern, that (for once) I didn't change the design of. It went together beautifully, though I did deviate from the instructions and I fully lined it (flatlined) and faced the hem, much like you would a skirt of the era. My only issue, which was not bothersome enough to change, was that the crotch seam ran a little snug. It's not tight, but for a pant so loose around the legs, I assumed it would be a little roomier in the seat.

The button holes are all fully functioning and hand sewn. It is made of twill wool left over from my brown 1880's dress. It is lined with cotton. I chose the "bicycle length" as opposed to the "riding length." I wanted to show a little leg. Wink wink ;)

The rest of the outfit was all acquired previously, but not made by me. The blouse and corset cover (scroll down) are antique and of the era. The boots are Oak Tree (super comfy!) and the spurs are my actual riding spurs. I found the gloves at a western store. The hat is a felt blank from Jas Townsend. I accessorized with a little enamel antique pin, at the neck, and my pocket watch and chain. A gal's gotta know what time it is on the prairie!

Legs!!

Spring! Fig trees blossoming. So pretty:)

Below you can see a pic of the corset cover. It's a little rumply, as this pic was from when I got undressed. You can see how the cut of the corset cover creates a pouf to support the pouter pigeon shape of the blouse. The cotton is a little stiff, which helps hold the shape as well. I read once, that girls would stuff hankies down the front to support the shape even more. Kind of like stuffing your bra... except it's stuffing your stomach... Hmm...

And because it's always fun to have a black and white one...

Hope everyone is having a good weekend! Cheers!