terry graziano

{ how I wear my hat } back from the mountaintop

wearing Brooks technical top, Prana convertible hiking pants (zipped off into shorts), Timberland shoes, Smartwool socks, Timex Ironman watch, cotton bandana, terry graziano Capricious hat

Hey there!

We are just back from a fantastic trip to Sundance, UT.  
Here I am at the Arrowhead summit, looking down over Provo Canyon & Utah Lake.  This is just after conquering my fear of heights by not only riding a chair lift (yikes!), but hiking up to the top of a mountain and posing near the edge.
I'm feeling rather powerful, hence the Warrior pose!

Our trip was the perfect combination of vigorous outdoor activities, lounging around, great food, spa treatments, art classes and some of the most breathtaking & inspiring scenery I've ever seen.  It was my first time in Utah and I fell in love with the beauty of the environment, the kindness and joy of the people, and the strong artisitc community.  Sunny and 95 degrees during the day, clear starry skies and 55 degrees at night - Paradise!

And as a side note: no humidity = heaven!  Seriously, I could have Breck Girl hair if I lived there!!

But now that I'm back in Chicago, my unruly locks have returned:




 
wearing Windy City Rollers t-shirt, elevenses/Anthropologie skirt, Dockers sandals, Daily Dose necklace, vintage cuff bracelet, Tad Moore watch, terry graziano Scintilla headband, self-made cocktail ring

I love this t-shirt!!  Especially the back :)  We went to see the Windy City Rollers a couple of months ago and it was such a fun night!!  I love roller derby and so admire the gals' chutzpah & competitiveness.

I thought I'd balance the tough look of the shirt with one of my favorite skirts, some simple sandles, one of my headbands to tame my hair, and just a few pieces of bold jewelty.  I think that Ngan's necklace is the perfect compliment to both the look & neckline of the shirt and I often wear them together.

Now, can we talk about my ring?  It is silver with a huge hematite stone and I adore it!  Even better, I made it in a terrific silver-smithing class at Sundance, taught by the very talented and supremely patient Brittany Golden.  Brittany made it so easy to overcome my timidity and to make sure that the end result was something I would love and be proud to wear.  Using a torch for the first time, hammering the band, even the feel of the components - it was all so foreign to me, but really sparked a desire to continue to explore.  Brittany was so inspiring - her work is amazing - and I cannot thank her enough!  

Now I'm settling back into my studio, catching up on orders, and finalizing fall designs.
It's still quite warm in Chicago, but at night, you can feel that autumn is on its way.

I hope you are enjoying the end of summer!

Take good care,

Terry

{how I wear my hat} crisp & cool

Happy Monday!
We have a reprieve from the oppressive heat today, but it's still summer, so I'm sticking with pieces that are crisp & cool:

I'm wearing a JCrew blouse, Plenty by Tracy Reese skirt, diana broussard shoes, Fossil watch, vintage bracelet & earrings, terry graziano Capricious hat

I love skirts with pockets, don't you?

Take good care,

Terry

{ how I wear my hat } linen & lace

I'll be in the studio most of the day, but hope to escape to the museum for an art fix later on when my work is done.  It will be a steamy walk up the avenue but I hope to still look respectable once I arrive.  Long but lightweight layers in linen & lace, ballet flats, a fun tote bag where I can stow everything from bottled water to a camera, and a light cotton seersucker hat to wrangle my hair should do the trick!





wearing vintage Evan Picone lace top; Gap cotton tank; Anthropologie linen & cotton skirt; Stuart Weitzman flats; terry graziano Heady Concoction hat; self-made tote bag; eNVe Designs earrings; Smithsonian gift shop glass ring; vintage bracelet, watch & rings 

Dressing for this heat is becoming its own art form!
How are you coping?

Take good care,

Terry

 

{how I wear my hat } thermometer rising!

The heat index forecast for Chicago this afternoon is 115,  
so what better day to wear a dress that is dip-dyed to look like a thermometer?
To complete the look, I threw on a few sparkly accessories and
a light-as-air textured silk beret to keep my hair off of my face & neck. 


  



wearing Converse cotton sundress, Anthropologie slip (peeking out of the neckline), bettye muller suede espadrilles, terry graziano brioche hat, Fossil tank watch, vintage choker & wrap necklace, vintage purse, Anthropologie cotton cardigan (on chair)

A slow & easy day is in order, so I'll be playing in the studio as much as possible!

Take good care,

Terry

{ how I wear my hat } hot tamale

The heatwave continues!  Today I went for a cool but comfortable look I'm calling
"1950's fashion editor traveling to Mexico for a photo shoot":

wearing Club Monaco skirt, Anthropologie blouse, Joan & David sandals, husband's belt, vintage drop earrings, jade ring & silver cuff bracelet, flea market bead & chain necklace, Daily Dose ice cube necklace, self-made linen headband & button bracelet

Since it barely cools down in the evening, we've been staying in and watching lots of old movies.  This week we're on a Tony Curtis kick and the best of the bunch so far has been The Rat Race with Debbie Reynolds.  So good!!  The writing, directing & acting were all superb - highly recommended!

Have a great Tuesday!

xo,

Terry 

{ how I wear my hat } heatwave blues

Hello Monday!  
We're in the midst of a heatwave here in Chicago that is supposed to last through the end of the week.  To try to cope, I've been inspired by the women of India to wear light airy layers & accessories that pack a punch.

Here's what I'm wearing today to run errands:

wearing Gap top, Viola skirt, Nine West sandals, self-made hat & bag, Daily Dose silver drop necklace, vintage pearl & silver mixed-chain necklace, vintage ivory bracelet & hoop earrings, Fossil watch, Smithsonian gift shop glass ring

As the yearbook signatures say: Stay Cool!

xo,

Terry 

 



 

{ how I wear my hat } birthday edition

Thank you so much to everyone who placed orders during my weekend sale!  It was so nice to see some new names and so gratifying to have the ongoing support of my most loyal fans.  I am so grateful to be able to continue to do the work that I do, and at the same time have it received so warmly.
Mille Grazie!  

This past weekend was not only a holiday, but I also celebrated a birthday!  To be honest, I was not looking forward to this one, because the number is getting pretty high (46!) and I just didn't feel "ready".  But ready or not, it happened and I guess when you think about the alternative, it's still a good thing!  I'm looking at my apprehension as a guide to make some much-needed adjustments to my routines and plans and now I'm actually feeling excited about the year to come.

A trip to NYC a couple of weeks ago was my big present, so we kept the actual day relatively low-key.  Though it was dark and very stormy, I had a lovely time with my favorite guy.  Here's a quick recap:

We went here,
ate here,
strolled through this,
he gave me this,
we bought these,
and took a class with this couple
here.  

Fun fun fun!!

Here's what I wore:

Sweetheart hat in chocolate cotton, vintage earrings & bracelet, Fossil tank watch, vintage lace scarf, vintage Nan Duskin raincoat, vintage Schiaparelli purse, Hue tights, Diana Broussard shoes (grosgrain ribbon laces added by me), (unseen Richard Chai dress - you'll surely be seeing it soon!)

(sorry for the dark & grainy photo!  it was raining & Bruce snapped it with his iPhone)

The shoes and the dress were birthday presents to myself from Century 21.  I love shopping there when we go back to NYC because I always discover "new-to-me" designers and both Diana Broussard & Richard Chai are small independents based in NYC. Normally I couldn't afford theses pieces at full price and they were still a bit of a splurge - even at 80% off - but well worth it for the quality and beauty of their designs.  

And I've finally figured out the secret to a low-stress experience at Century 21 (eureka!)  The Manhattan location opens at 7:45am and as long as you're in and out by 10:30am it is positively blissful!  After that, the tourist groups and early lunchers show up and it's complete bedlam!!  I've gotten so used to shopping online that a crowded store can now be pretty overwhelming - I lasted until noon and then I had to retreat.

And now that I re-read all of that, geez, how do I celebrate when I AM looking forward to it??

By the wow - I see on Century 21's website that they have a "Lincoln Square location coming soon" but they don't say what city - please let that be LS in Chicago!

Do you have any favorite independent designers?  
Any places you especially like to shop and make discoveries?

xo,

Terry

{ how I wear my hat } winter into spring

I'm really longing for spring and though it may be some time before it's here, I'm already gravitating toward lighter, happier colors.  The morning is spent dreaming & sketching, after which I'll happily be ensconced in the studio draping & sewing.  For days like this, comfort is key.  




I'm wearing a Fedorable, which despite being one of my most popular designs, I discontinued for a while because to be honest, I've never been completely happy with the fit of it. I plan on revising it for the spring, so today will be a good reminder to get on it!

Are you looking forward to a change of season?  How do you dress for the transition?

xo,

Terry

 

Outfit details:

self-made Fedorable
vintage sweater
JCrew shirt
Gap jeans & socks
Born ballet flats
Fossil tank watch
vintage bracelet & earrings
flea market ring




 

{ how I wear my hat } Nanook of the Midwest

It's bitterly cold (-6), very windy, and yet I must go out and run some errands.  Thank goodness for the sun!  Here's how I'm bundling up today - it's all about the faux fur:

This coat is incredibly warm!  I love it for its style, its softness, and most of all, that I got it for $2 at a yard sale in Pennsylvania more than a decade ago.  Those pretty buttons, back belt, and contrast collar/cuffs/hem border just make it for me.  

The hat is a faux fur style that I made around the same time - it has pieces all around that flip up and are black wool on the alternate side.  So cozy!  I also made the mittens from some scraps of black wool & lined them in grey faux fur.

When I'm covered up this much, I like a small but easy-to-carry purse, and when it's this cold, something I can tuck my hands into is a definite plus.  This vintage muff fits all of my requirements, and the addition of a simple black cord makes it even easier to wear. 

Now I must fly like the wind!

xo,
Terry

Outfit details:

Vintage coat & muff
Self-made hat & mittens
Yomo NY scarf

 

{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)