The fascinator is dead. Long live the hat! At this year’s spring racing carnival, retire the feathers and step out in a chic pillbox, a man-style fedora or a flight of millinery fancy. Need some inspiration? Melbourne’s milliners are here to help.
Explosions of colour are set to be big this year – think orange, hot pink and coral topped off with metallic highlights. Both Richard Nylon and Ward & Wylie reported a trend towards metallics, with gold being the most desired shade.
Be warned – a hat in a statement colour works best witha simple dress. Milliner Louise MacDonald recommends tying in the hat’s focal colour with accessories in complementary shades for visual harmony. On the other end of the spectrum is the trend towards pastelshades such as cream, blush, rose and lilac. These colours tie in perfectly with this season’s emphasis on all things ruffled, lacy and ultra-feminine.
For classic appeal, look no further than the marriage of black and white. Whether you favour a sculptural masterpiece from Richard Nylon or Melissa Jackson’s simple brimmed hat with an oversized bow, it’s difficult to go wrong with this timeless combination.
If the thought of forking out $2000 or so on a bespoke hat makes you run screaming, may we recommend that you visit a curated vintage clothing shop? Good quality vintage headpieces, from the 1930s onward, cost anywhere between $50 and $150 at Circa Vintage and you’re pretty much guaranteed uniqueness –without a bespoke price tag.
Still need more inspiration?
- Follow Illionaire’s S/S 08/09 lead, and affix an oversized silk flower to a ribbon and tie it hippy-style across the forehead.
- With everyone from Blair Waldorf to Topshop Unique on the bow bandwagon, there’s no denying it – bows are hot, and the bigger the better. Buy some fabric from Clegs to make a nice floppy one.
- Check out Ward & Wylie’s range, or Melissa Jackson’s diffusion line for Portmans, which features double bow headbands in black, fuchsia or purple.
- Borrow from the boys – fedoras, baker boy caps and bowlers are all fair game. Circa Vintage stocks classic top hats and bowlers for a cool $60.