vintage finds...

The girl collected hats.  She preferred them to be both vintage and elaborate.  These hats weren't to be kept in a box or displayed on a shelf.  No.  They were collected because she wore them.  Anywhere and anytime, with gumption and without fear, she walked proudly, head held high, topped with a hat. 

My daughter still wears hats.  They are not quite as fanciful now, she is a bit more reserved as a woman than she was as a little girl.   I miss her now that she has moved away to attend school in Seattle.  This is the only reason I can think of that might explain my most recent estate sale purchase. 

We arrived only two hours after the sale started and the place was almost completely cleaned out.  I heard it was amazing - perhaps next time.  I wandered into the closet to see if perhaps there was a piece of jewelry or two that had been missed.  Empty.  It had been picked clean except for this hat.  She was just sitting there on the shelf, shoulders puffed and justifiably full of pride.  This mint condition, Italian, gray felt and silk copper ribbon piece of art had somehow been left at the altar.  I imagined her in her heyday, displayed on a shelf in a chic millinery shop in Rome and just couldn't leave her.  As I freed her from the closet, I think I heard her whisper "grazie amico".

Here's the thing.  I don't wear hats.  I don't look good in hats.  My daughter no longer wears these types of hats and her collection is boxed up in my garage waiting for her.  I don't like clutter.  What am I going to do with this hat?  How do I justify this hat?  I'm thinking it might be a good prop to use in jewelry photos for my shop, what do you think?

 I don't know.  I might just leave it here on my desk to remind me of my little girl who loved hats.   

Perhaps someday, she will have her own little girl who will want to collect elaborate vintage hats and if she does, I'll have to get her started.