The daffodils are out, and it is the first of March, which can only mean one thing...

So it's too late for a pinch and a punch; I got a bit overexcited this morning and ended up posting this story of Anthony Carrigan instead! Still it was worth it!

It would be wrong however to let today pass by without a little reminder that it's the first of March and that can only mean one thing! Goodbye bathtub picture and hello stylish hats!

To give you a bit of history of the inspiration behind this picture, I'll have to introduce my friend! Fern Bereen is quite possibly one of the most casually creative people you will ever meet! Training in costume and set design at University, Fern is a milliner (making hats) by trade and also has the ability to whip up and style almost anything; it's safe to say if I attempted the same, the decor would look like I dropped it from a great height, whereas Fern gives it a stylish purpose! Anyway, in a moment of panic about how we'd actually get the shots to look nice, AND make sure no boobs, nipples or other bits were on show, I rang Fern! She chatted to me in calm tones and promised to support me on the shoot! Out of the cupboards at her workshop came wedding crockery, afternoon tea sets, dresses, and hats, and she willing transported everything on to set in all manner of trunks and suitcases!

It was then that the girls discovered Fern's inspired hat collection, made from anything she can get her hands on including old broken jewellery, raffia table mats and even dried flowers! They couldn't stop putting them on and so a new picture was born - one which took advantage of the gorgeous colour and structures of the hats and showcased them against the cream background of the traditional Cotswold stone! They looked gorgeous!

The reason that this picture was selected for March? Unless you are one of my Cheltenham buddies, something which you may not know is that Cheltenham is often referred to as the 'home of horseracing'. Every March, there is one of the most coveted prizes of the sport up for grabs - the Gold Cup - and whilst more 'country' than Ascot, the event still features big hats and a best dressed competition! I personally go to these races often and in fact have worn one of Fern's creations, so it seemed only fitting to pop this one into March, a month known locally to me for its big hat occasion!

Fern makes affordable hats for any occasion, from the traditionally stylish to the statement flambouyant. To find out more, you can visit her website, or like her on Facebook, either of which will be appreciated! You can also buy one of the very styles we wear, if any of them take your fancy!

Happy page changing!

Victoria x

www.prettybald.co.uk Twitter: @PrettyBald

How do you store your Wig / Alternative Hair?

If you only own or wear a single wig then storage is pretty straightforward! A head or wig stand available from most places will suffice and shouldn't take up too much room. I on the other hand own twelve different styles (with a desire for more), which I switch regularly and match to my outfit. Short, long, curly, straight, synthetic and human hair, I've got it covered; but with all of those wigs, just where do I store them?

When I lived with my parents and had plenty of my own space, my wigs were everywhere; you'd find wig stands, heads, probably one over a lampshade* and one on the banister knob*! Then, I moved into my boyfriend's one bedroom flat where things were a lot less spacious! T is very supportive of me; my alopecia doesn't bother him and he still tells me I'm beautiful. He also won't stand in the way of me having wigs - as many as I want - but he drew the line at having twelve heads around his flat to store them. Apparantly it just isn't his kind of decor 😉 Anyway, when I moved in, I had to find a neat, compact and stable method for storing my wigs and one which kept them safe and secure! I puzzled and pondered but no matter how long I thought about it, I couldn't come up with a solution! Then I searched online for neat storage and came across a store fitting shop which offered gridwall in all sorts of formats, along with millinery hooks to support hats or similar items! As I couldn't drill holes to add gridwall to the walls, I opted for a freestanding metal unit; it has a wide foot and can support racks on both sides. I've bought millinery hooks (usually used for hats) and these fit nicely into the cap of the wig. Eh voila!

I can adjust the height and distance apart and adapt it exactly to my wigs! T and my landlord were happy and my wigs are accessible! Thankfully, we've bought our own house together and things are a little less cramped, so I'm looking at some more stylish storage solutions, but if you're looking for an affordable, compact and accessible storage solution, gridwall can be great!

My gridwall:

I'll keep you posted if I find or opt for anything different in the near future! 

Victoria x

*P.S. these aren't recommended wig storage methods 😉

www.prettybald.co.uk Twitter: @PrettyBald