Straw Into Gold

Bespoke is delighted to present a new collaboration, Straw into Gold, featuring the work of Saint Louis milliner, Miriam Wiegand.

Some examples of Miriam’s work

Miriam uses her talents as a sculptor to shape plaited straw into hats that frame and flatter the face, using the subtle elements of a grand millinery tradition that has spent decades getting its beauty sleep. 

I have been an admirer of Miriam’s work for years. Her lines are unfussy and clean, and the perfect inspiration for a line of summer dresses designed specifically to pair with her hats. The grace and control of her pieces work well with the easy shapes of the season. The beautiful colors and textures of straw and abaca fibers are a perfect complement to airy cottons and linen. 

The practical artistry of a hat is the perfect summer accessory. In a season where dressing should be effortless and simple, hats are a great finishing touch to add both a layer of sun protection and allure. The amount of bareness that makes hot weather fashion comfortable can sometimes look a little unfinished, but the graceful shape of a hat’s portable shade is a great way to turn barely dressed into well dressed.

The right hat draws together the story of your signature style. Taken as part of a complete silhouette that frames the face, and balances the depth of a neckline and the swoop of a skirt, a hat is the period for the sentence your shoes started.

Saint Louis has a history as a fashion center, and an appreciation of the marvelous artisans and designers currently in out midst can make that history part of our future. The success of Amare Elementorum, featuring the work of embroidery artist Victoria Cates, made it clear that Bespoke should continue to support and promote the fine artists in St. Louis’s rich and talented fashion community.