A Feather in Her Cap

Jane Lambert sinamay headpiece with clipped turkey feather trimRecently I wrote a story about the true origins of the fascinator, which has in the last decade or so been a popular substitute for a ‘proper’ hat at Melbourne’s Spring Racing Carnival.

I have generally been quite vocal about how much I hate fascinators, but to be fair, it is the cheap, common variety that I dislike so intensely – the ones that all look the same, and do not display the wit and imagination of a dedicated and passionate milliner.

Nerida Winter horsehair and silk organza bow headpieceI thought I’d show you some I’ve had hiding up my sleeve for quite a few years: I scanned these tearsheets in 2009 and never posted them. Most of these are fascinators – two are what I would define as actual hats – and I find them quite tolerable! Some I like more than others, these first two for example that do show wit: feathers shaped into arrows (it reminds me of William Tell), and horsehair fanned out like a real – albeit crazy – hairstyle. All of them however feature feathers in some form.

The photographer was Troy House, and the pages come from Australian Harper’s Bazaar, circa 2009.

H’ATELIER parisisal pillbox with faux pearl trimNeil Grigg opal-finished cock feather tiny topper crown hatNeil Grigg sinamay cocktail hat with pleated crinveil and sinamay, satin and quill trimNerida Winter parisisal hat with net and quill trim