Wear a Hat

This series of lamps began with my dad’s favorite advice. If my mom, my sister, or I were upstairs struggling with our hair, running late and frustrated, he’d call up, “Wear a hat!” It was his way of saying good enough is good enough; stop fussing, get moving, life won’t wait for perfect.

I almost never took his advice, but the phrase stuck. Over time, “wear a hat” became shorthand for any moment when striving for perfect was only getting in the way of living.

In 2023, after I made my first lamp with a lampshade I found in a “free” bin on the street, my dad gifted me 12 lampshades he had thrifted just for me. They became the starting point for this project: 12 “hats” to put on.

These lamps and this project is an ode to my dad for his quiet, unwavering support; for always showing up, and for teaching me that sometimes good enough really is perfect.