Fine Form: DIY Hat and Accessories Displays

Photo credit: Sassytrash

I have found my next DIY project, spotted on Pinterest a few weeks ago! 

A couple years ago I actually swiped an all-metal stand from my mom, because I like their sort of rustic feel (despite only owning about three hats). But throw the top portion onto a vintage lamp and you have magic! 

Fine Form: Two Ways to Style Miniature Bust Forms As Accessory, Jewelry Displays

Bracelet: thrifted
Necklace: borrowed from my mom!

I snagged these miniature busts for $12 at The Green Shag Market (5733 Manchester Ave.) a couple months ago. At about six inches high, they make perfect little accessories holders. I keep one in my bedroom and one in my bathroom, each for different uses: one for vagrant hair ties, the other for jewelry I'm too lazy to put in its proper place. 

I'm getting an itch to spray paint them a funky color. What do you think?

Fine Form: Mannequin Bust Jewelry Display

Image credit: Bryce Covey Photography, as featured on Style Me Pretty

File this one under further proof that a miniature bust can serve functional and aesthetic purposes. I think trays are a great way to keep accessories sorted, and the addition of the mannequin bust gives the display some dimension. It also lends some personality to the decor. Not that gray is boring, but the natural wood pops against the gray and white. 

Fine Form: Hands Away

Fine Form: Antique Doll Lamp

This lamp is one of my most sacred possessions--one of two gorgeous antique lamps that I inherited after my grandma passed away. Growing up they were weighed down in pounds of gold necklaces she piled over their skirts. It took several hours of untangling the necklaces to liberate these ladies, so most of the time I'm careful about how much I'm tossing on top of them. I happen to think this one looks like a bejeweled warrior in her sash of colored beads and my Cara bracelet as a headdress.

Fine Form: Mounted Deer Head Jewelry Display

Image credit: 11 Eureka Blog

I can't resist a cool pattern--especially when it's part of a jewelry display! These fish are fab! I spotted this deer head wall art from 11 Eureka Blog on Pinterest a few months ago, and ever since, I've been trying to get up the gumption to create my own version. It's a quirky take on the typical "rustic" man's statement piece, with the capability of keeping your necklaces tangle-free. What more could you ask for?

Fine Form Road Trip: Regal Vintage, Southwestern-Influenced Airbnb Digs in Denver

I spent the past week in Denver with my boyfriend, and had to share my excitement over some of the cool bust and hand decorations that occupied the Airbnb house where we stayed! Dubbed the "Hipster Highlands Victorian," the home was filled with mid-century furniture and quirky knick-knacks--most with a Southwestern or mystical vibe.

The styling--vintage Victorian home with sleek, more modern decor--reminded me that sometimes mixing influences can create a very memorable look. Perusing Airbnb listings, I was immediately struck by the bison skull with beaded headdress situated above the piano in the dining room area. The addition of the Moroccan rugs made the room eclectic, instead of screaming, "Cowboy kitsch!" (Missing from the piano photo is an extremely comfortable leather pouf for sitting that's cuter than any bean bag chair could hope to be.) I often find abiding by a 'theme' while dressing or decorating, and while that theme changes often, I hope I remember in the future to experiment in combining elements from different aesthetics to create something new.

The trip was chock full of exploring the mountains but very little shopping. I made a point to take a jaunt down Broadway to see for myself the barrage of antique and thrift stores. I did duck into Regal Vintage (1866 S. Broadway) for an eyeful of psychedelic prints and funky sunglasses. The store offered a little bit of every decade, making it a great store for browsing. (They even had a wagon of $2 tees out front for those of us who have to stay vintage on a budget.) My favorite feature: this crazy fuzzy guy greeting customers while rocking a blue zebra tie.

Fine Form: Classy Hat Displays

I know I've highlighted a fair share of hats in these Fine Form posts, but I thought these two--spotted at St. Louis Vintage Market Days in April--offered a fun visual juxtaposition, with the draping on the busts and the straw hats. Photos by Tracey MacLeod of Confessions of a Second-Hand Junkie

Fine Form: Hat Display

This edition of Fine Form is another Pinterest find (couldn't find source). While I'm automatically drawn to busts with a lot of carved or painted details, I think the basic white busts can really pop when used as a display with the right accessories. The mask and pile of straw hats make the bust look less stately and more fun--especially the one with the tiny bird!

Fine Form: Dress Form-Shaped Perfume Bottles at Quintessential Antiques

I'm not much for perfume, but perhaps it's because today's don't come in such stylish bottles. Spotted last month at Quintessential Antiques (5707 Manchester).

Fine Form: Mannequin Head Wall Display

Unfortunately I wasn't able to find an original source for this image, which I found on Pinterest.

I think this is a great display for people who own a lot of sunglasses and hats, and would rather show them off than stock them in a drawer (or a hat box). Normally I'd say, "Those mannequins heads should all be the same color," but I think these mixed up heads play a lot better with the different styles of accessories. Like the look? You can also create a similar display using mannequin hands.


Do you use a dress form or mannequin for display? Share your photos with me, and I may feature them in an upcoming "Fine Form" post! E-mail photos to karlieabaker@gmail.com.

Fine Form: Garden-Luscious Mannequin Heads From Silver Swan Home

I stumbled upon Silver Swan Home, based out of Union, Mo., during my jaunt to St. Louis Vintage Market Days earlier this month. While they specialize in shabby chic and French-inspired decor, I found myself most drawn to these garden-inspired mannequin heads. I love the use of moss, feathers and ferns to give these ladies some serious style! I'm not much of a green thumb (I killed my newly-purchased rosemary plant within two weeks), so I've been debating buying one of these as a way to add an earthy element to my apartment decor without fear of having to toss it in a week.

Fine Form: Hand Jewelry Display

This cool sterling ring dish was part of my birthday present from my mom. We both spotted it at the exact same moment when browsing at St. Louis Vintage Market Days, but she was quicker to snatch it off the shelf. Lucky for me, she loves me!

I think it's already become one of my favorite jewelry displays. Also, I like piling so many rings on it that it looks like the hand is trying to dig its way out. Like so.

Fine Form: Showing Off Jewelry (Even Drinks!) With a Mannequin Hand Wall Display

Image credit: Side Street Sidney

I've seen a few mannequin hand displays on Pinterest where the hands are secured to the wall so they "pop out" at you. There's a good chance that these are real hands (you can peek the teeniest bit of flesh up at the top), but it's my favorite portrayal of that concept. The gloves are really what sell this look for me, and the pastel colors offer a delicate contrast to the darker, chunky jewelry.

I do love the various hand poses that allow for less conventional items to be hung up (mannequin hands are available in more natural-to-human poses, as evidenced here). If I could find a way to fashion a few of these into drink holders, they'd become a fixture in any home I ever live.




Do you use a dress form or mannequin for display? Share your photos with me, and I may feature them in an upcoming Fine Form post! E-mail photos to karlieabaker@gmail.com.

Fine Form: Transforming a Dress Form Into Accessories Shelving

Image credit: New England Home Magazine

I'm much more inclined to see a dress form and think of what I can put on it rather than what I can put in it. But this shelf--highlighted in the home of Lee Bierly and Christopher Drake in New England Home Magazine--is a great way to make use of its potential storage functions.

Fine Form: How to Create an Eye-Catching Tribal Jewelry Display With a Manikin Hand

Image credit: Quinn Cooper Style

I'm no stranger to using my manikin hand and animal-shaped tchotchkes as ring displays (as evidenced here and here), but Quinn Cooper takes it to the next level on her blog. I love the use of earrings and bracelets to mix up the variety on the wooden manikin hand. The addition of the white arm not only offers a visual contrast to the wood and gold accents here, but creates an easy (and tall!) necklace tree.

Tips for using a manikin (or mannequin) hand for display:

• You'll likely find standard wooden manikin hands at your nearest craft supply store. Other styles (like the white hand pictured) are often available in jewelry sections at major craft supply chains.
• If you're going to display the hand with its wrist, you either have to glue the hand to the base, or ensure items on the hand aren't top-heavy. The clattering of the whole shebang to the floor will be enough to scare the hell out of you, but you don't want to risk damaging your jewelry. 
• Keep the size/length of your jewelry in mind when choosing a hand. Even with a wrist base attached, the wooden hands aren't tall enough to hold longer necklaces.
• Don't feel compelled to abide by the "one ring per finger" rule. It's a jewelry display! Pull an Iris Apfel and stack 'em to your heart's content.

For those of you who enjoy the cute mice as ring holders, check out nearby thrift stores for animal knick-knacks. Anything with a smaller head or a tail can be transformed into a jewelry display--and even better: "ugly" ones can be made chic with a new paint job. Check out Pinterest for inspiration!

Time to start re-arranging my jewelry table...

Do you use a dress form or mannequin as a display? Share your photos with me, and I may feature them in an upcoming Fine Form post! E-mail photos to karlieabaker@gmail.com.

Fine Form: Retro Mannequin

I found this photo on Tumblr, and fell through an electronic rabbit hole attempting to find its source. One of my immediate goals to expand this blog is to find a full-form mannequin--one with legs and a head, so I can show off looks with tights and headscarves better. This one would probably be hard to dress, but it's so dreamy (the garters!)! I'd probably be compelled to dress her like Rosie the Riveter at all times.


Do you use a dress form or mannequin as a display? Share your photos with me, and I may feature them in an upcoming Fine Form post! E-mail photos to karlieabaker@gmail.com.

Fine Form: Rock Star Planters For Your Garden

Image credit: Stoneface Creations

Apparently winter is going to last for another six weeks, so this edition of Fine Form hearkens to a warmer time of year. 

I do not have a green thumb, but if I were a gardener, I would plant almost all of my ferns and succulents in head planters like these, from Stoneface Creations. They lend a whimsical touch to the typical flower pot by daring to answer, "How would humans look if our hair were made of cascading, flowered plants?" (That answer is obviously 'awesome.') In my mind, they're all members of the same botanical hair band--though a punny band name alludes me. 

I love how their faces are mossy and a little rustic, but part of me would love to buy a few and paint them up like famous rock stars. How cool would Ziggy Stardust look with spiky green leaves atop his head?

Do you use a dress form or mannequin as a display? Share your photos with me, and I may feature them in an upcoming Fine Form post! E-mail photos to bringingupbustform@gmail.com.

Fine Form: "I See a Little Silhouetto of a (Wo)man..."

Image credit: Design Sponge

This week's "Fine Form" edition doubles as a DIY! Design Sponge created this great silhouette bust that's perfect for displaying necklaces. While it's simple (and fairly simple to make, if you or someone you know works with wood), it's very elegant--and can easily be customized to your color preferences.

What I love most are the extra touches: the earring hook made to look like it's dangling from hers, and the broad base to hold dishes of bracelets and rings. It makes it look like a cohesive piece, instead of a tchotchkes thrown together into dishes.

Fine Form: Sailing On Waves of Curls

Image credit: Every Day Is a Holiday

I am in love with this bust! It manages to be classical, funky and whimsical all at once. It also reminds me vaguely of this drawing, which I pinned ages ago.

Craftiness tends to allude me, but if I ever tried paper crafts, I would want to make one of these. And wear it on walks with the dog.

Image credit: Paper Cut Project

Do you use a dress form or mannequin as a display? Share your photos with me, and I may feature it in an upcoming Fine Form post. E-mail photos to karlieabaker@gmail.com