When Heidi Wade was an Aspen ski instructor in the late 1990s, she didn’t love the sporty winter hats available at local stores. So she started stitching together clever patterns and unexpected fabrics to produce her own feminine yet functional headwear. About five years later, she turned her hat-making hobby into a business, and Heidi Hat was born.
Recently, Heidi evolved beyond winter in the mountains and expanded her line to include activewear to include stretchy, super-comfy yoga pants, capris, skirts and board shorts — awesome, versatile pieces that pack easily into a suitcase.
Heidi Hats & Other Accessories
Heidi’s signature hat is a pillbox shape, lined in fleece and typically enhanced with silk brocade, lace or whimsical tassels. I sampled one similar to the faux leopard fur pillbox pictured at right ($56), though mine is topped with French lace instead of the the black silk brocade and my bead is black. I love this hat and feel 0h-so-chic wearing it; but honestly, it doesn’t look near as cute on me as it does on the model pictured here. With my bigger-than-a-typical-woman’s head, the fold doesn’t come down on my forehead or over as much of my ears as I think it should.
Here’s the nifty thing: although these hats are “one size fits most,” each is hand-sewn and made to order, so if I were placing an order, I could ask for some extra fabric to give it some extra length. (The hat does look great on my 10-year-old daughter; but there’s no way I’m going to let her go to school with it.)
Other hat styles include form-fitted beanies and “novelty hats” that might feature sparkly fabric, pom-poms, fabric flowers or lace. Peruse the plentiful images on the hat section of the Heidi Hat website to see if something catches your eye, or you can create your hat from the dozens of material swatches. Neck gators, baby beanies and blankets, fleece nose covers (to attach to your goggles and prevent sunburn on the slopes), and gorgeous lace scarves lined in fleece and fringed with beads ($98) round out Heidi’s winter line.
Heidi Bottoms & Bandeau Tops
For the beach and the yoga studio, Heidi makes strapless bandeau tops, teeny tiny hot shorts (not for this particular 40-year-old body) as well as board shorts crafted out of great stretchy swimsuit material. I dig the slinky bandeau-waist capris and pants (offering plenty more leg coverage) that are ideal for wearing on a plane or long car trip.
But my favorite item from the “bottoms” collection is the 20-inch, A-line skirt finished with a sweet lace waistband; it flatters just about any figure (mine for sure). The upbeat flowery prints scream “Hawaiian vacation,” and I can’t wait to pack mine in “blue wildflower” ($74) for my next beach trip. The same skirt style in black French lace over stretchy beige fabric ($98) can be dressed up with a pair of black boots and smart black top — instant comfortable outfit to wear out to the theater or fancy dinner while traveling.
The best part about Heidi Bottoms? No snaps, zippers or buttons — eat and drink as much as you want on your vacation, and you’ll still have something comfortable to wear on the flight home!
Peruse all the options for custom orders of bottoms or hats on the Heidi Hat website. Beware, no automated online store here; you actually do it old-school by placing an order over the phone, via email or by fax. Or see if Heidi Hat items are sold at a store near you.
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#1 by Nicole - March 25th, 2011 at 12:12
It’s a common misconception that women who are sporty are tomboys. A lot of times, we can be just as feminine as the girls who don’t even own a pair of tennis shoes and only wear heels. I’m so happy that Heidi’s line accommodates for the fashionable active woman! Thanks for that! Has any department stores or retail stores bought your line yet?