From blank canvas to bespoke beauty, this is your sign to craft a custom hat at Gem Hats.

This is exactly what my friend Maddie and I set out to do so we made our way to Gem Hats in LoHi. Buckle up, fashion friends, “it’s time to make you a hat person”.

Stepping into Gem Hats felt like stepping into a creative hat wonderland. Walls adorned with colorful hats and shelves filled with unique embellishments set the stage for an afternoon of pure fun. The lovely ladies at Gem Hats greeted us with warm smiles and a contagious enthusiasm for their store. Throughout our hat-making experience, owner Caroline & the Gem ladies were our patient guides, offering expert advice while allowing for our individual styles to shine through.

My vision? A classic white hat with a touch of Western flair. We browsed through Gem's selection of hats, from suede, to wool, to felt, finally settling on a crisp white hat that promised both style and durability. The hat shapes ranged from the iconic flat brim to the bolero, but for that timeless Western vibe, Maddie & I both opted for the classic cowboy silhouette.

Once we had our base, it was time for shaping. With a practiced hand, the experts at Gem trimmed and shaped the hats into cowboy silhouettes.

Now, we were ready for the next step: adding our personal touch with bands, baubles, and branding. I knew I wanted a band color scheme that was Western chic.

I went for a classic red and blue combo, choosing a rich red leather band and a deep blue counterpart. To add a touch of playful elegance, I threw in a light blue ribbon.

Feathers and charms galore awaited us next. I added several brown multicolored feathers for dimension and a silver charm for shine.

Next up was branding to really make the hats ours. The ladies at Gem used a brand-burning technique to add that touch of permanent flair. For my hat, I chose tiny mountain silhouettes to represent Colorado, and "denv.her." to incorporate my social name. Then Maddie & I, both got matching stars burned onto the back right side of our hats – a little reminder of this fun experience together.

We were left with gorgeous finished products & very fond memories. Seeing our initial visions transformed into two stunning, uniquely handcrafted hats was a fabulous experience. The entire process, from the initial brainstorming to the final branding, was interactive & incredibly fun.

So, Denver, if you're looking for a way to express yourself with something unique and fabulous, a trip to Gem Hats is a must! It's the perfect place to unleash your inner designer and walk out with a hat that's as individual as you are. Plus, it's a guaranteed recipe for a fun-filled afternoon with friends (and maybe even a new Denver tradition!).

Huge thanks to Gem Hats, Caroline, the Gem ladies, Maria, & Chatter Club for hosting us!

Check it out babes and let them know that denv.her. sent you. xx

Gem Hats

Address: 1955 W 32nd Ave #1, Denver, CO 80211
Phone: (720) 679-1443
Website: https://www.gemhats.com/