Blazing sunshine, tinkling glasses, flirtatious smiles, gloved hands waving, sudden cheers from the crowd as the horses thunder by- and above all, a mass of glorious flamboyant millinery. Sunday is Mad Hatter day at the Galway races, when women from all over Ireland will don extraordinary creations designed to attract the judge’s eyes. The focus is on silly, witty and perky hats, trimmed with alluring veils, extravagant feathers and colourful ribbons. These hats have one aim and that’s to get the wearer noticed- sleek minimalism, it seems, might frighten the horses.Here’s my complete guide to hats – how to wear them and how much to pay – from the exclusive boutiques to the high street stores...
The right hat for you and how to wear it well...
*FULL FIGURES should go for wide brims. Large women look silly in little hats.
*Small woman get height from tall crowns. But don’t let the brim dip too low – you’ll look as if you are wearing a circus prop.
*If you wear glasses, don’t let your hat fight with them, Think big hat, sleek frames: statement frames –understated hat.
*A brim that hides your neck from behind makes you look stumpy. Anyways, a glimpse of neck under a hat gives superior sex appeal.
*Avoid all stiff shapes in pastel coloured straw that seem to break out all over Irish department stores like a nasty summer virus. A simple shape in a natural straw is so much better.
* Feathered headpieces can easily be worn with hair tied up, or tousled curls, for a fashionable look this season. They're also more popular nowadays as they're easier to wear. Feather toppers and combs are becoming increasingly popular, as they work really well with different outfits and offer a softer look at.
*They don’t all have to be Philip Treacy. If you wear it well, you can be memorable by carrying off a humble trilby with style. The key issues are face shape and hair.
*Wide faces suit brimless, off the face styles, while square faces look good in peaked, baker boy caps. They will also get a lift from the narrow squared crown of a fedora. A narrow face needs a rounded full crown, such as a cloche.
*Big hat, understated dress.Cloche hat, long dress. Veiled hat, sleek dress. Trilby or fedora, trouser suit.
*There must be a symbiosis between your hat and your personality.
*You have to wear it as naturally as if you were born with it. If it makes you so self conscious that you stoop or cower, you are better off hatless.
*Most hats look best when you put them on from the front, then tilt them sideways on your forehead to make sure as much of your face as you want to show is visible.
WHERE TO BUY
If you don't mind buying off the high street, department stores like Debenhams, Marks & Spenser, and House of Fraser all offer value for money. Debenhams' Debut range has a wide selection, including a red striped headdress from Pip Hackett, 45 euro, a silver small feather and hat hair band from J by Jasper Conran, 45 euro, and a purple feathered top hat by Estex for just 70 euro.
Marks & Spencer has a black satin rose headband for, 15 euro and a peach wide brim corsage hat for
only 50 euro.Watching the pennies? Go for Accessorize's Chain Detail Grand Feather Alice, 25 euro or blow the budget on a Philip Treacy original, 390 euro, from Brown Thomas.
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