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#hats

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Addicted to Books

Dear Jane, which of your books do you suggest I start with?

Yours, Addicted to Books

Oh my sweet buttery crumpet of curiosity!

What a deliciously brave and reckless question! Which of my books should you start with?! It’s like asking which sock should go on first in the morning — the left one, obviously, unless it’s Wednesday, in which case you must begin with a hat instead.

Now, I have written at least seventy-nine books (or possibly seven — I lost count after the one about custard diplomacy), and they are all utterly useless and deeply inspirational. So here are ten perfect places to begin your descent into literary chaos:

  1. “How To Pretend You Meant It All Along” – A definitive guide to bluffing your way through life with a straight face and a wildly inappropriate hat.
  2. “Diplomacy Is For People Who Don’t Own A Catapult” – A thrilling handbook on interpersonal communication and trebuchet-based conflict resolution.
  3. “The Emotional Benefits of Arguing With Furniture” – A groundbreaking study in passive-aggressive interior design.
  4. “They Seemed So Shiny At The Time” – My cautionary tales of poor romantic choices, including the time I accidentally dated a footstool named Jeremy.
  5. “Eat Cake, Regret Nothing, Yell at Clouds” – My most passionate cookbook/memoir/screaming exercise manual.
  6. “A Beginner’s Guide To Living In A Bin (With Dignity)” – The essential survival guide for anyone who’s made just one too many silly decisions and now lives next to the recycling.
  7. “Sock Therapy: Healing From The Toes Up” – A tender exploration of emotional restoration via cotton blends and unreasonable striping.
  8. “Hat Wisdom: The Bigger The Brim, The Bigger The Brain” – Required reading for students at my Hat Academy of Thought & Pigeons.
  9. “I’ve Made Worse Decisions, Probably” – My semi-fictional autobiography written entirely while upside-down in a shopping trolley.
  10. “Tea First, Apologise Later” – A complete guide to getting out of any social faux pas using only a pot of Earl Grey and unflinching denial.

And if, heaven forbid, you should ever run out of my books, do try my audio series “Whispering Nonsense At Geese” and my one-woman musical “The Socks That Time Forgot.”

Now go forth, my voracious little bookworm in a tutu, and bury yourself beneath a pile of my questionable wisdom! Just remember: if you ever feel confused, overwhelmed, or slightly on fire, have a cup of tea and buy more of my books.

Unreadably yours,
Lady Jane Sillybottom
Headmistress of the Unaccredited Institute of Sock-Based Insight,
Author of Dozens (Allegedly), and Inventor of the Reverse Umbrella

Jane Sillybottom is a work of fiction written in collaboration with AI. On no account should anyone follow her advice unless you really want to. There’s no accounting for some people.

"Socialites, stars and the sun came out for the famed Frederick Law Olmsted Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, where the city’s most glamorous women showed off their finest fascinators to raise $4.3 million for Central Park."

Slews of Socialites Show at Central Park's Famed 'Hat Lunch'

pagesix.com/2025/05/07/society via Page Six/"New York Post"
Photo: Angelina Katsanis/"NY Post"
#HatLinch #CentralPark #NYC #Millinery #Hats

put a pin on one of my hats yesterday that some of you #infosec people might appreciate too: YOU ARE NOT IMMUNE 🌀🌀 TO PROPAGANDA 😎

i know i wear a lot of vibrant kangols but this is a boston scally felt one i really love. #hats

"Ever flipped through your #history book and wondered “Why are all the #Jews wearing these funny #hats?”

You find it all over #Christian #art from stained glass windows to manuscripts, the #Judenhat (“#Jewish #hat”) can be traced back to #medieval #Europe.

You can even find it in the Bird’s Head Haggadah and some other Jewish books of the time! Originally a marker of eastern learning, antiquity and authority, and even fashionable with 12th century aristocracy, things took a dark turn as Jews were depicted wearing the hat while killing #Jesus. Paired with a “Jewish nose”, the hat can even sometimes still be seen in #Antisemitic depictions of Jews today."

unpacked.media/the-weird-jewis

Unpacked · The weird Jewish hats of Medieval art: Antisemitic trope, or fashion statement?Ever flipped through your history book and wondered “Why are all the Jews wearing these funny hats?” You find it all over Christian art from stained glass

A lot of the times I walk past my stack of hats I both yearn for one of those old fashioned hat stands... And think that I should really wear Second Largest Hat more. It's rather large!
The second photo is from the making of, where I sewed on pieces of embroidered lace by hand. There's a bit of veiling on top of it I've since changed my mind about, but I haven't changed it because I don't wear it!

A few years ago, I made this hat which is still one of my favourite makes. The pattern is self drafted and very simple, basically it's just two circles and a long rectangle.

I used three layers: smooth viscose/cotton lace on top of a cotton fabric which I stabilized with iron-on fusible interfacing. The hat is also lined with a light cotton fabric, so it’s hand washable.

All the materials (except interfacing) are recycled from thrifted clothes, like a skirt lining that I had removed and a lace top that was too short.

To style the hat in different ways, I just tie silk chiffon scarves around it and clip or pin fabric flowers, barrettes or brooches to it.

#sewing #diy #upcycling #hats #lace #recycling #sustainablefashion #slowfashion #handmade #disabledartist #queerartist