terry graziano

Memorial Day Sale!

Enjoy 25% off all hats in both the big cartel and etsy shops, now through Monday May 30!

I hope you have a fantastic long weekend, and as always, thank you for your support.

xo,

Terry

{how I wear my hat} Chinese New Year

Happy Chinese New Year!  Hopefully the Year of the Rabbit will be far kinder than the fierce Year of the Tiger ever was.

My apologies for being m.i.a. this week.  I came home from New York with incredible new fabric, exciting new tools, a head brimming with new ideas...and the flu.  But I have to say, being forced to stay inside during the extreme weather that Chicago is experiencing, is not such a bad thing at all!  Blizzard, high winds, white-out conditions, frigid temperatures?  I just piled on an extra blanket and watched another movie, ever grateful for warmth, shelter & tea.

I'm finally starting to feel like myself again and though I won't be venturing out any time soon, any excuse to dress up for a special occasion is a welcome diversion.  They say to ensure prosperity for the coming year, wear the color red on the first day.  I decided to compliment my red with primary colors.










I love this jacket so much!
Besides being beautiful, it has special memories for me.

Long ago, my dear friend Sally introduced me to one of her dear friends, Mia.  
Mia was an amazing and beautiful woman, who with her sister had worked as an actress in Hollywood in the 1930's.  Being Japanese, they lost everything when they were forced into the internment camps during World War II.  She and her husband and young son moved to New York when they were eventually released and created a new life.  I met her when she was in her 70's and living in Philadelphia.  

Mia and Sally both had booths at an antique mall near Adamstown, PA - Sally sold all sorts of collectibles, while Mia focused on fashion, jewelry and accessories.  Immediately struck by her spirit and her incredible sense of style, whenever I would make the drive "up-country" to see Sally in her element, I would always make a point to visit Mia for a chat and to see what beautiful new finds she had.  As kind as she was chic, over the years I bought many pieces from her at a ridiculous discount.  Bruce & I were very young and very poor at the time, but she knew a kindred spirit and wanted to encourage my ambitions.  Bruce even bought my engagement ring from her, and she kindly let him pay in installments for well over a year.  Though it was supposed to be a secret, she was so excited that he was planning to propose that she spilled the beans and showed me the ring before she caught herself and realized what she was doing!  It was our little secret for the next year and I think she was as relieved as I when the engagement was finally official. 

Mia shared her booth with her son Joe, who we also grew very fond of.  He has his mother's curiosity, elegance, and kindness in spades.  A few years after we got to know them, Mia became very frail and sadly passed away.  After she died, Joe brought a huge treasure trove from Mia's collection over to Sally's house, for me to choose anything I'd like to keep.  I was so touched by that and at first, I just didn't feel right taking anything at all.  But Joe insisted that Mia would have wanted me to have them.  This jacket was from Mia's collection, and the first piece I chose.  I am extremely thankful for their generosity and for the beautiful remembrances.  And it seems very fitting to begin a new year honoring her memory and wrapped in such beauty.

Happy New Year! 

xo,

Terry

P.S. - I'll be having an "end of the season" sale starting tomorrow in both shops - details to come. 

 

Outfit details:

self-made hat
vintage Chinese embroidered silk jacket (gift from Mia)
Gap white t-shirt
vintage blue skirt (part of a suit)
Hue red tights
Ann Marino black boots
vintage earrings, ring
London flea market black stone bracelet
vintage silver cuff bracelet (gift from Sally)
vintage black satin Spulcioni bag (gift from Sally)








 

National Hat Day!

January 15 is National Hat Day!


to celebrate
the entire shop is 30% off 
Friday, January 14 through Sunday, January 16 
use coupon code "hatday30" at checkout 

xo,
Terry