You can leave your hat on
It’s hard to go wrong with a traditional style in a timeless colour, writes Melissa Singer.
Fashion used to be all about the s-word: sex. But lately, another s-word – sustainability – has been climbing the charts. So what does that look like when it comes to spring racing fashions? For starters, it means finding millinery – the most seasonal, least adaptable part of any outfit – that will have some staying power.
Fortunately this season, the return of the boater and the resurgence of the fedora means there are plenty of opportunities to buy a hat that can go from races to polo to summer wedding, a toque trifecta if you will.
Milliner Jill Humphries, of Jill and Jack, said the first step was to go to a milliner and try on as many hats as possible.
Of course, for some women, that requires getting over the fear of milliners and millinery (it can be in the same section as cooking duck and applying false eyelashes).
‘‘So many people say, ‘I don’t suit hats’ – they just haven’t tried the right one on,’’ Humphries said. ‘‘A milliner will look at jaw, hairline, face shape and know.’’
Humphries and Australia’s Caulfield Cup Carnival stylist Rebecca James agree that buying a versatile boater in a neutral or timeless colour such as red is a good place to start.
‘‘It’s a traditional style that’s very easy to inject into your weekend looks to keep your face out of the sun,’’ James said.
This season, James said milliners had moved towards embellished boaters to create a fresh take on the shape.
‘‘[Some have a] ribbon feature you can tie under the chin ... [milliner] Sylvy Earl has beautiful chains on her [hats].’’
And if you’re thinking of starting a millinery collection, James suggested a headband as a great place to start.
‘‘I would go with a fedora but a lot of women will go down the headband track. I don’t feel fascinators are a thing any more, I think the headband has taken over.’’
Celebrity milliner Sarah J Curtis said quality straw was essential in finding a hat to last. ‘‘Ecuadorian toquilla straw is super soft, light and durable, and has been used to make traditional hats since the 1600s,’’ she said.
‘‘It’s definitely a lot of fun to wear a colour or statement hat for the races but, ultimately, if you want to invest in a hat that you will wear over and over, you can’t beat a natural straw weave with a contrasting grosgrain band.’’
If you’re still stuck, Humphries has a simple piece of advice: go with your gut.
‘‘When you put the right one on, [a woman] will smile and tilt her face to the light and know she’s found the one.’’