Pretty as a Picture (Hat)

Today was Oaks Day at the Spring Racing Carnival, which is also known as Ladies Day, and the pink rose is the official flower for the day – it can be purchased from flower sellers near the entrance of the racecourse. Today is also known as my sister Star’s birthday, and I was in fact celebrating the occasion with her and my two other older sisters.

However, this hat (bought in an op shop a few months ago) surely personifies the day’s theme, as it is coloured rose pink and resembles nothing so much as giant flower petals that have fluttered down and settled on the head. It looks different from every angle, as the sinamay has been crumpled into an asymmetric shape.

There is also a large exotic flower on one side which I disliked (such trimmings seem so common to me). It would look so much more elegant and sculptural without it. At first I thought that I would be able to remove it by ripping off the stitches, but unfortunately the milliner saw fit to glue it down to such a degree that ripping it off would destroy the sinamay at the crown. I am trying to reconcile myself to its existence.

the trim, and the wide brim, define this as a picture hat, also sometimes known as a ‘Gainsborough’ hat

In fact the trim, and the wide brim, define this as a picture hat, also sometimes known as a ‘Gainsborough’ hat (after the 18th century painter). The name derives from the way the broad brim frames the face and creates a ‘picture’. Other wide-brimmed hats are called cartwheels (usually worn flat) and halos (usually worn upstanding on the back of the head, like an angel’s halo also as seen in old paintings); both these styles were popular in the 1940s. Picture hats often were lavishly trimmed, as in the Edwardian era, so my single flower is probably quite restrained.

At any rate, it is an entirely frivolous hat, for though the brim is enormous, the loosely woven material would provide zero protection from the sun. But not all beautiful things need to be practical, do they?

Photo: July 2016

Brilliant Plumage

Supposedly Melbourne Cup Day fashions are all about bright, bold colours, so I took that as license to go to the nth degree. Therefore I am peacocking about in fine feathers and brilliant plumage: namely, a turquoise feathered bandeau and an emerald jacket that are both from the 1950s, and a modern flamingo pink silk blouse with cascading ruffles.

The hat I spotted, fell in love and bought it all in an instant from Etsy a few years ago, while the raw silk jacket and blouse are both more recent thrift store purchases. The hat really is a flamboyant piece, and although I did not go to the races, it is the perfect eye-catching accessory for such an event.

Photo: This week

Derby Day Bridle

Today is the Victorian Derby Day of Melbourne’s Spring Racing Carnival, and I did not attend the races. However, since I will take any reason to celebrate the donning of hats, I am getting into the spirit with this 1940s headpiece.

On Derby Day it is traditional for ladies to wear black and white only; this headpiece is made from white seed beads and pale silver bugle beads (I assume metallics are acceptable). It would actually have been worn originally as a bridal tiara. The beads are sewn to a cotton or linen backing that is remarkably sturdy, and the headpiece fits firmly on the head.

It’s really very pretty, and on-point, as tiara-style headpieces are currently all the rage. I caught the train into the city this morning and saw quite a few racegoers – every woman I saw was wearing a tiara in some form; I saw not one hat. Even more remarkably, I did not fantasise about crushing any of them underfoot – they were all tasteful! It shall be interesting to see what else comes out of Melbourne’s collective closets over the next few days.

P.S. Some horse fancifully called Prized Icon won the actual race; the jockey was wearing strawberry pink-and-brown silks.

Photo: Today

Shed that Winter Coat!

Hey, hey, it’s the second day of spring! (This was supposed to publish yesterday but had an auto-queue fail.) Spring into action and shed that winter coat, why don’t you? Actually, I won’t be doing that because the weather is rubbish today, but it’s the thought that counts, right? I am pretty excited however, as you can see – this balmy time of year positively makes me want to kick my heels and skip all the way home under the mock-orange trees. (I’m not waxing lyrical – there actually are mock-orange trees lining my route home.)

… this balmy time of year positively makes me want to kick my heels and skip all the way home under the mock-orange trees

Under my lovely camel coat I’m casting off, I am wearing a vintage 1970s polka-dot dress I bought recently at a vintage warehouse sale. The clothes at the sale all came from America, and this dress arrived without a belt, but luckily I have a black leather belt already that does the trick. I love the dress though, and I’m looking forward to wearing it when the weather actually warms up. Happy days ahead!

Photo: three days ago

Winter Solace

Take solace Melburnians! Even though it’s still chilly chilly chilly, things are looking up: it’s Winter Solstice today, the shortest day of the year. From tomorrow the days will be lengthening little by little, and that can only mean one thing: SUMMER IS COMING.

In the meantime, tuck your head into a woollen cap, and wrap a cosy scarf like this mohair plaid number round your neck. And hey, at least we can be thankful it doesn’t get freezing enough in our hometown to snow – although that would certainly be pretty, wouldn’t it!

Photo: July 2015