Love the Drama of Feathers!If you love the drama of a hat, you'll love the drama that feathers create on a hat. Tall, short, wide and thin and sculptured into many exotic shapes such as flowers, arrows, spheres and crowns - feathers add height, depth and interest to headwear.Feathers have been used throughout history to reflect cultural heritage, as a sign of manhood, of tribal dominance and in fashion, as a mark of the latest trend.While there are thousands of birds, there are a handful that are used (and excite) hat makers. The main ones used today are pheasant, ostrich, turkey, guinea fowl, roosters, duck, emu, goose, marabou and peacock - although almost any feather from any bird can be crafted into a shape to suit a particular headpiece style.We love using feathers because of their versatility and ability to be shaped into all sorts of captivating silhouettes. They can be grouped into plumes to provide dramatic movement and shape - such as the feather spray used to create Chloe Moo's headpiece (left), winner of the 2013 Melbourne Cup Carnival Fashions on the Field.Alice Goes Out Uses FeathersAlice goes Out uses many feathers in our headwear - such as the beautiful cluster flower as created for Aqua Takes a Bow (below left); the tens of small guinea feathers used to style Guinea Ginny (below second left); sprays of coque crafted into a bouquet of white on Sparkling Willow (below centre); the mass of black and white feathers that spring from Lizzie Lair (second right) and the single pheasant that gives Swirly Paige height and elegance.How Feathers can be used in HeadpiecesBefore they are used as a hat or headwear trim, all feathers are treated, often dyed to create new and interesting hue and then stripped to form naked, or semi-naked quills or trimmed into various shapes. Unlike flowers which can be easily copied in leather, silk and various fabric, each feather is unique - a bit like a finger print - which makes them extremely difficult to reproduce.Feathers can be very delicate and easily damaged to it is important that you treat your feathered headwear with care. A broken spine, or misshaped barbs, can be difficult to repair - if at all. We recommend always storing your headwear - feathered or not - in a hat box; steering clear of very crowded places and not wearing your headpiece in inclement weather.But foremost - enjoy your feathers and revel in the interest they will give you and your style. And remember - whenever you wear feathers, you should dare to fly!Photo credits:Blog home page: Ben K Adams / Foter / CC BY-NC-NDTop left: PreciousBytes / Foter / CC BYFeather used in background of quote: PMillera4 / Foter / CC BY-NC-NDBottom left: Jupiter Firelyte / Foter / CC BYNote: Alice goes Out ensures that any feather used in our headwear designs has been sourced through ethical suppliers.
