Hatstravagance™ - an evening cocktail party of millinery and fashion

Flemington racecourse was abuzz last night as hundreds of women (and a sprinkle of men) poured into the Atrium to experience an evening of Hatsravagance - an evening cocktail party of millinery and fashion. The Millinery had a definite presence, but I was not convinced about the fashion presence… and certainly not convinced of any obvious cocktail party vibe.

Nonetheless, the millinery was (as the name suggests) the main objective of this evening. With some forty milliners exhibiting their creations. There was colour, feathers, flowers and frills as far as the eye could see (and in my case, I can't see very far so it is true and fair for me to say this type of thing).

It was a "SOLD OUT" event according to the marketing team, and I believe it. A sea of hat-enthusiasts wandered through the room. Looking, trying, touching, ooo-ing, ahhh-ing.

For me, first thing was first. Find my mother. Once again, in my life of running just a little late, I tottered with pace from my car to the entrance. I groaned a little (in my head) at the non-walking-up-the-escalator guests as they stole more of my time. I arrived at the top of the escalators. A handbag, a camera bag. My ticket? Yes, in my bag. A tray of drinks. No, not just now, I need to find someone… pronto! Ah, but there she was waiting with Hillary Nylon (sister of the admirable Richard Nylon). Mum, as often, was dressed in black, wearing a sweet, black velvet headpiece. Phew! I made it. I wander with mum through the excited crowd to each of the millinery stalls.

First stop is Annie Clifforth millinery. Purple, orange, red, and black and white delights rest elegantly on their stands. Waiting to be loved but enjoying the adoration. My favourite is a pale green rochello with little pink glass flowers and wispy ivory peacocks. Purple is extremely (but not at all surprisingly) popular. The two purple pieces will sell to adoring owners later that evening. One shopper will be disappointed that she missed out on the purple dish with black, but she will place an order while her friend purchases a show-stopper black rochello with patent white flowers - one from the parade… she hunted it down. It had to leave with her.

Other stand-outs were Louise MacDonald's array of knife-edge pleats and soft pinks, browns, black and white. Richard Nylon always brings something different to the table. This year, he brought a selection of headbands. I watched as he demonstrated how to wear them to a curious customer. "They are good because they give the impression of a turban-style, without all the bulk at the back of the head". The turban-style was declared, to a fashion watching crowd earlier this year, by Peter Jago to be "fashion". You have to have a certain face-shape and style to sport the turban. I don’t have, therefore I don’t wear.

Serena Lindeman's table was colourful and interesting. My favourite was a small head piece with an upside-down waterfall of bows and flowers - raffia wound around shaped wire.

Brett Morely, who was positioned next to Annie Clifforth, demonstrated a fascinating take on modern millinery. His pieces are lace structures. Angular, poised, dramatic. They sweep from one side to the other - asymmetrical. They were popular "to try" but it would take a very brave shopper to make the commitment to take one of these home and promise to wear it with absolute stature to the track. A tiara of lace that sits just on the hair line.

As guests were ushered to their seats, I noticed that I had not been smart enough to plan a "coat on the chair" reserve for myself. The good seats are all taken. I decide to grab my "box of food goodies" and stand up the back. I will get a great view from there. After all, that is where the photographers are. I have a large camera. That makes me a photographer. I open the box of goodies and assess its contents. I eat a 3-bite chicken sandwich. Peter Rowland's chicken sandwiches have always been a favourite of mine. But since when did they put bacon in them! What a shame. Two strawberries, bite-sized carrot cake, fritatta rectangles, mini salmon bagel. Cute. I wish I had a drink.

The evening commences with Mark Vincent singing Nessun Dorma. His powerful voice fills the room. Silences it.

Opera is quickly replaced with house music. Fashion parade music. The hats are modelled. They float (but at speed) atop of models' heads. Colour, shape, height, angles, sparkle, flowers, elegance, interest, one I love, one not-for-me. I click away attempting to capture the evening through a lens.

At the end of the parade, guests clap, Richard Nylon and Kim Fletcher speak, they remind me of a pair of Oscar-presenters… they draw from a silver bowl, the winners of prizes. The formalities are over. The guests are advised. They now have a decision to make...to shop or not to shop?
I decide to get a drink but am told that there "are no more glasses". This is more of a shame than the bacon in my sandwich. What does that mean - no more glasses? Is it common for catering companies to provide one glass per guest these days? Let me guess… the GFC. Let down but shortly over it, I return to the Annie Clifforth stand.

The crowd thins. The lights get brighter. The evening is assessed with satisfaction. The works of art are carefully packed into their tissue-lined boxes. The venue clears. I collect a goodie bag on the way out. Spring Carnival is brewing behind me as I leave a dark Flemington. See you, and your blossoms, in a few weeks dear friend, and thank you for another good time!

Sometimes the races are not all that great.

Ok, so Chapter One: Underwood Stakes Day was a bit of a let down. Firstly, the weather man failed me big time. Nevertheless, I tottered my way through puddles and sought shelter. Luckily my patent, nude Peeptoes are quite hardy. Secondly, the majority of punters were trackside (but in-side) in their best (or not) pair of jeans. And thirdly, the fashion stakes were a bit blah. What a shame.

I must say, however, the Fashions on the Field event itself was a reasonably run operation. The set up was sweet. White garden-party chairs on either side of the judges table. Kind of like a wedding arrangement. Groom's side and bride's side type of thing. The stage was normal. Black. With two black, paisley-painted horses (with wings) as a backdrop. Good intentions for a tight-run, classy event.

Unfortunately, however, despite these good intentions, there was rather a lot of faffing about. Filming of Postcards with Suzie Wilks held things up a little. Susie was all goose-bumped and looking quite uncomfortable (as were the rest of us) as she was attended to by a loyal, "spray and hair-pin ready" hair-stylist. Suzie wore a charcoal trench... Backwards over her black dress. Lauren Phillips was there, as I heard her tell Suzie, "just for an hour", and acted as host to the fashion competition. She was in black and white Ginger and Smart. I didn't catch the other details of her outfit but she did, as always, look lovely and elegantly negotiated her skirt's behaviour in the wind. The two ladies chatted fluff and ignored the grey-haired man who was fitting them with wires and microphones.

Livinia Nixon was gorgeously pregnant in a purple, flowing, full-length. She has been dubbed the Caulfield Style Ambassador. I admire this decision - whoever made it. Livinia was a judge in the competition, along with some other not-so-famous people… one of the judges wore nothing on her head. Another shame.

The front row of the white-garden chairs provided convenient seating for a group of rowdy, beer-guzzling teenage boys. They jeered and "woo-hooed" the girls. A couple of their female friends were yelling slurred remarks to the friends they had forced or dared to enter the competition. There is nothing worse than a drunk, rowdy, spaghetti-arms girl strutting her stuff on the cat-walk… or is there? There was a white pant-suit with a vest rather than a jacket. No bra. Revealing vest. Ew. But there is always one. I remember last year at Caulfield Cup one of the entrants decided it would be appropriate to strut her stuff on the catwalk in the form of a strip-tease. I am not kidding - she actually rubbed her hands up and down her front. No-one knew quite what to do. Some of the crowed giggled nervously. Some just looked stunned. She was pouting. She was shimmying. She was just horrendous!

Anyway, the purpose of the Underwood Stakes Day competition was to run a "heat", which would see one winner proceed to the Fashions on the Field Grand Final on Caulfield Cup Day. With barely 30 entrants, each girl celebrated approximately 2 seconds each on the catwalk. For some, for reasons set out above, this was far too much time. Despite the seemingly low attendance (given the weather and magnetic field that draws people inside on days like this) a crowd of on-lookers gathered round the stage area. You would have seen this type of gathering along Southbank when a really good busker is doing something... really good. The white garden-party chairs were full. Cameras were at the back of the crowd. As was Susie Wilks. Her trench now worn the right way round.

The music was also a bit peculiar. Better suited to a night club. I think the DJ had his set lists confused. The party-people at Seven or Room may have been rather "So Frenchy, So Chic" that night. It is truly difficult to merge a classy, feminine attitude with a hard-core tune. It is kind of like watching a classical ballerina float around gracefully to a John Course track. It's just not right. I guess it is worth noting, however, that the DJ had it right for those who decide to ditch the classy-feminine attitude for a vampy, on-stage strip-tease.

The winner of the "heat" was a very pale pink and cream combination. Not my cup of tea to be honest. I have always had a phobia of that sickly, pale, vintage, grandma pink that I often see mixed with black… makes me feel a bit queasy thinking about it. Anyway, the winner wore gloves this colour and a felt, half-cloche hat with beads and feathers on the side. The concept of the hat was agreeable. But I would prefer to see it in a non-sickly pink combination - say black and white? Anyway, so there it is. Another winner of FOTF who I wouldn't necessarily have chosen, but was obvious to me as a top three. You eventually learn what will make the top 3-5. After that, it is quite political/random/bizarre/pot-luck. Pale pink walked away with about $2,000 of prizes and a beautiful bunch of blood-red roses (which clashed perfectly with the sickly pink gloves). That outfit will be re-worn on Caulfield Cup Day. Look out for it.

Let's hope Chapter Two: Caulfield Guineas Day brings me more cheer!

The Races are coming!

Gloves? Check. Appropriate dress? Check. Shoes and bag? Check. Headwear? Check!! Good-time attitude and lipstick smile? Check check! Yes, the sun is out and the races are beckoning - three cheers for spring and three cheers for the races (and a couple of cheers to the jockeys for agreeing on the whip rules)!

There is no doubt that the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival is just around the corner. In fact, I will be attending Underwood Stakes Day at Caulfield this weekend so the races are, it seems, well and truly upon us!

To me, the Spring Carnival is largely about the fashion. Don’t get me wrong - I also love the horses, the excitement and those unique trackside sounds. The cheering, the clinking of champagne glasses, laughter... But, oh the fashion. Where else can one dress in a complete outfit with gloves, and headwear? If you can tell me, I would like to know.

As I mentioned, this weekend brings Chapter One: Underwood Stakes Day at Caulfield. I am a little excited for a number of reasons and at this stage, the weather forecast is pleasing to say the least - a "sunny 24" - so a light, flowing fabric perhaps? Cute lace gloves and antique veiling also come to mind… Although, I have to admit, as much as it hurts to do so, I am not really short of options (although am always on the lookout for something new) so will have to see what Saturday brings! One can't plan her outfit too far in advance!

Another reason for loving the Spring Racing Carnival is that it has become tradition that it is a time for my mum and I to put our (sometimes flippant) heads together and create! Millinery is one of the stunning features that the racing season brings to life and 10 (or more) years of being surrounded by feathers, flowers and straw, as well as designing and styling racewear outfits, has taken its toll... for the better!

With encouragement from a truly inspiring milliner/mentor/mother, I recently completed a course with highly respected Melbourne-based milliner, Louise MacDonald. So, with skills refined and a head buzzing with ideas, I am busy putting into form, my 2009 millinery collection. My collection this year is a culmination of in-season colours, pleasing lines and classic elegance. (To view a snapshot of my 2009 collection visit http://millinerybyalexandra.blogspot.com/).

So, it's off to the track on Saturday for what is sure to be a great day out and the beginning of a a very event-filled racing season!