Monday

In Search of the Perfect Hat

I recently had the opportunity to attend the Breeder's Cup, a highly important race among thoroughbred racing enthusiasts. Of course you KNOW that a lady dares not show up at such a classic racing event without first visiting the proper milliner. Hatware is of utmost importance if one wants to be accepted in polite horsey society. So I set out to find the perfect hat.   

Where does one go to find a hat? Well, a Kentucky lady is perhaps more fortunate than others. Nearby at Churchill Downs, venue of the Kentucky Derby, is a hat museum.  I journeyed the hourlong trip to Louisville, Kentucky to see what ladies of good breeding have selected in the past. 


 What awaited me there was a veritable array of elaborate (and sometimes really weird) headware.

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Thia one, while interesting, was a definite "no." It did NOT go with my dress!

 

I found some good possibilities in this display. 


Now, if I were riding a horse instead of sitting at a cushy table watching the race, I might have elected to go with something like this.

The simplicity of this one appealed to me a lot.  The price tag of $250 did not.

This was...uh...interesting.


 I really do love the feathers.


This looked like it couldn't possibly be a hat, but the photograph next to it proved that at least one lady did find a way to wear it.

 There's something to be said for the simple black and white hat.

Ahhh...now we're getting somewhere. I loved this one.


On to the millinery. I had a BLAST trying on hats!








I almost had this one in my shopping bag. If my husband hadn't seen the $300 price tag, I would have bought it!



The one on the left makes me look like a flapper, while the one on the right qualifies me to assist Sherlock Holmes.

This one was up on a display too tall for me to reach. I figured the price was probably out of reach as well.

I loved the fun flowers!


At the race, I was attuned to hats. I asked many ladies if they would mind posing for a picture of their hats. They were obviously as pleased with their headwear as I was mine.












Of course, hats aren't the only thing people wear to a horse race. I wonder who these folks were betting on?


And it isn't only the women who dressed for the race.


So what did I end up with? Well, I came close to going with a classic Fascinator that I liked very well.

 

But in the end, I selected a hat that matched my dress, and was unlike any others I had seen. No feathers or flowers. IN fact, I look like a cross between Lady Mary of Downton Abbey and the Mad Hatter.



All in all, a fun and informative exercise in millinery and ladies' fashion! I believe this might show up in a book sometime.

21 comments:

  1. Cute hats! I like a beanie for myself. : )

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  2. Oh my goodness, you didn't pick the one with the horse on top? That one was definitely a winner. How fun to wear that to any horse event!!! I've never seen one like it...or like many of these. Thanks for sharing, I loved this!

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    1. I think that would be a great one for a private derby party!

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  3. Ginny, these are awesome!

    I'm a no frills kind of gal so my favorite is #4, the small black one with the white bow. And I do love the Sherlock Holmes hat. You look so cute in it.

    Hats are fun.

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    1. I really liked that one too. Elegant in its simplicity.

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  4. Replies
    1. I did too. If only I had lots of $$$. I can totally see why some women are addicted to hats.

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  5. I liked the huge black one with the teal bow someone was wearing. I want that one!

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    1. And believe it or not, she told me she made that herself!

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  6. What a fun selection of hats! I've always loved hats, but they look terrible on me, no matter how pretty the design. I think it has something to do with my hair - hats always look better with longish hair as a sort of base. I love the one you chose!
    My choice, though, would be the one from a women at the race. It's 12 pics up, the one with the pretty peacock feather sticking up, and the purply flower facing the camera. Something about those peacock colors appeals to me!

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    1. I've always thought I looked awful in hats, Maureen, but some of these weren't too bad. As long as I didn't take them off. Hat hair is NOT attractive!

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  7. I love your hat, Virginia! I love hats in general, but the museum takes the cake for hats I've seen in my lifetime. ; ) Having just gone through hair loss from chemotherapy, I'm wearing lots of hats these days. My favorite style has always been the broad brimmed, but lately I'm enjoying the cloche style--like the black one with the white ribbon you showed with a price of $250. Mine don't cost that much, either, but I don't at all mind being told I look as if I've walked out of Downton Abbey! I'm so happy to see more women wearing hats again, if only for the winter. Thank you for a fun blog posting!

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    1. Cathy, I texted a picture of my hat to my sister and said, "I feel like Lady Mary of Downton Abbey." And she replied, "You look like Granny." Gotta love sisters!

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  8. Love hats! Those are all beautiful :)

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    1. I agree, with the possible exception of the one that looked like a giant red flower. It was pretty hideous in person.

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  9. You look fantastic in the Sherlock Holmes hat! Go back and buy it immediately. Dandi

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    1. I really like that one too! I'd wear it anywhere, not just to the races!

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  11. Oooh, the feathers! The feathers!

    Or maybe the simple black and white.

    I love hats even if I never wear one. :D

    Great blog.

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  12. I finally remembered to look at your hat post after I saw your Hawaii one. Fun times!

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