Hats a-flutter

Hats a-flutter

By Nicola St John

If ever there was a time to step out of the house with something resembling a bird’s nest in your hair, this is it!

Apart from the odd bad hair day, church outing or royal wedding, never has it been more appropriate to assemble feathers, flowers, straw and other miscellaneous peacocking elements atop your head. Spring racing season is here and, in fact, it’s almost required dressing.

Helping you out this season, we asked established Melbourne millinery designer Louise MacDonald to share her tips on what to do up-top.

What are the major trends in millinery design this spring racing season? Strong bright clashing colours. Be bold!

Is the reign of the fascinator over and will we see a return to classic hats? People are choosing headpieces that are small to medium-sized and that are well made, rather than fluff glued on a headband or a single flower!

What are clients looking for this season? Bright colours. Small but solid pieces that perch forward on the head. Pieces that frame the face and flatter their proportions. There have been very few requests for a big brim.

Does this season’s colour-blocking trend extend to hats and accessories? Absolutely. If you are unsure, stick to one colour family such as fuchsia, red and orange.

When choosing accessories for the races are there any important rules to remember? It’s not a casual event. Put some thought into it. Accessories can help make different elements of the outfit work.

Join Our Facebook Group