| CHATTERBOX |
Cherished clients,
Exciting news! For the first time, The Hat Box has its own
show at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Festival. We’ll be
appearing at the Hilton Hotel ballroom at 6pm Thursday 28
August along with parades by Pia Du Pradal, Sacha Drake and
Tulipani. Twelve of my most creative milliners are presently
busy at work designing divine works of fantasy, so if you
would like to see the results, we’d love to have you
there. Tickets are available from QTIX on 136246.
The Winter Racing Carnival, my favourite time of year, is
now over for 2008. Here are a few highlights of May and June.
|
PRIME MINISTER’S CUP
LUNCH
Held in Horizons restaurant at the Sheraton Mirage,
Gold Coast, this soiree the day before the Gold Coast Turf
Club’s Prime Minister’s Cup, was hosted by Baslyn
Beel and Jennifer Bartels, directors of Women in Racing. These
girls always throw a great shindig as you can see from the
photos, and all money raised goes to recipients of racing
welfare. |
Lorraine Dickinson, Phyllis Tegg & Julie Phillips at the
Prime Minister’s Cup Lunch |
Lauren Walker with Kerrina King at Horizons
Catching up with Julie Billeau & Effie Cliff |
The Loved Up Tony & Alanna Loveless
Enjoying Pre-Lunch Drinks with the Handsomest Man in the Room,
Nino Goncalves |
|
DOOMBEN CUP
As usual, the autumn weather was perfect for the BTC’s
Doomben Cup on May 17th. My friends and I enjoyed the seafood
buffet in Terraces Restaurant overlooking the track, then
left our husbands to their drinks and bets while we watched
the Fashions on the Field.
Black was the predominant colour of the day and it was worn
by winner, Laura Flynn, who added a touch of blue in the hydrangeas
in her hat. Another striking ensemble in red and grey was
that worn by Brooke Williams.
Lunch in Terraces Restaurant with Kathryn Neumann & Julie
Phillips
|
Brooke Williams at the Doomben Cup
|
Fashions on the Field Finalists |
|
DOOMBEN 10,000
The following Saturday was another gloriously sunny day
for the running of the Doomben 10,000. The Fashions on the
Field on this day was invitation only and as a “spotter”,
I found many beautifully dressed women who were worthy of
selection.
Black was the popular choice again and the judges chose Hat
Box client Kady Brandon of Home Hill their winner. Kady was
elegant in all black, her cloche trimmed with off-white which
she teamed with long vintage leather gloves. Other clients
who looked fabulous were: Natalie Letford, the Stoyle sisters,
Atlanta and Chanel and Suzie Miller.
Chanel & Atlanta Stoyle at Doomben
Suzie Miller Wows the Crowd
Hat Box Milliners, Patricia Balmer & Sandra Robson |
At the Doomben 10,00 with the stylish Natalie Letford
Winner Kady Brandon Trumps the Field |
|
OAKS DAY EAGLE FARM
Unfortunately, the weather turned cold and showery for Oaks
Day, not that the guests of the Conrad Treasury marquee would
have noticed. The social highlight of the racing carnival,
this lavish hospitality tent is decorated in a different theme
each year and this year’s was a Winter Wonderland complete
with ice skating rink. The Moet e Chandon flowed, the chefs
excelled themselves and my daughter Fleur and I thoroughly
enjoyed ourselves as usual. Thanks to the entire Conrad team
for a wonderful day.
Courier Mail Fashion Editor, Elizabeth Tilley with Fleur Thompson
in the Conrad Marquee
Hostess with the Mostest, Treasury Casino’s Katie Sinclair
|
Oaks Day Fashions on the Field Finalists
The Lovely Leisa Elder
Cecilynne Jurss Enjoying Oaks Day with Ch 7’s Matt Carmichael
& Pat Welch |
|
STRADBROKE LADIES LUNCH
The Conrad Hotel played host again on Friday 6 June
when the annual pre-Stradbroke Day Ladies Lunch was held in
the Courtyard. Special guest Symantha Perkins was keynote
speaker, Myer presented race fashions and the event was compered
by Sofie Formica. |
Deborah Quinn was chosen best-dressed
lady, while my friend Julie Phillips wore the “best
hat” made by Patricia Balmer. Karen Burke and Madonna
Boodle flew down from Rockhampton especially for the lunch,
and as their flight was delayed by fog, unfortunately they
were late for the function but made up for it by being the
very last to leave! |
Rocky’s Madonna Boodle & Karen
Burke
|
Julie Phillips Best Hat Winner and Ros Tilse |
Lauren Walker Wore a Fresh Flower Fascinator to the Ladies Lunch
|
Phyllis Tegg & Megan Gore-Jones at the Courtyard Marquee
|
|
STRADBROKE DAY
Huge crowds converged onto the Eagle Farm racecourse for
Brisbane’s premier race day. A group of us dined in
the Guineas Room Members Stand where I was able to view the
fashionable throng. It’s always fun to recognise my
clients in the hats I’ve sold them and to see how they’ve
been accessorized. More than once I’ve been tempted
to adjust a brim!
Watched the Fashions again and observed the winner in cream
and grey with a small purple hat. Race wear this year certainly
has a Melbourne look to it. Up from that southern State for
the weekend was my old pal Hal Salter, a Fashions on the Field
fixture throughout Australia and perennially elegant in his
three piece suit and bowler hat. |
Greg Phillips, Jessie Peace, Jim & Dale Olsson & Julie
Phillips in the Guineas Room |
The Fashionable Kirsten Price on Stradbroke Day |
Hal Salter Struts His Stuff |
Myer Fashions on the Field Winner |
|
|
BRISBANE CUP
DAY
Monday 9 June, the Queen’s birthday, is better known
to racing aficionados as Brisbane Cup Day. In recent years
it has also become a family day at the track with the Fashions
on the Field aimed solely at the junior set. My daughter Fleur
coaxed Ethan, one of her five year-old twin sons to enter
– Nanna provided his Akubra felt fedora from The Hat
Box, his suit a remnant from a family wedding.
We were surprised but absolutely thrilled when he won the
tiny tots category, with two little girls taking out 2nd and
3rd places. Myer provided the booty - $1,500 worth of toys.
Naturally, they will be shard with his brother Elijah and
doled out a few at a time. However, a somewhat dazed Ethan
was delighted with what he thought was his prize, a bag of
lollies given to each of the finalists. It shows it doesn’t
take much to make a kid happy!
Fleur and I were tickled pink that Ethan’s win means
we now have three generations of Fashions on the Field winners
in the family with Fleur and I both scoring several overseas
trips between us over the years.
Ethan Thompson with Fashion Winners of the over 8 Category
The Two Tiny Tot Winners
|
Ethan Thompson Poses with Admirers, Lauren Walker & Chantal
Halley
Three Generations of Fashions on the Field Winners |
|
TATTERSALLS CLUB RACE DAY
The last day of the winter carnival and always an excellent
day. My husband and I had enjoyed the club’s annual
Winter Ball the evening before which is a prelude to the big
day and their race day lunch in the QTC Committee Room is
always a great place to catch up with members and friends.
I am frequently asked to judge the Fashions on the Field with
stylist Catherine Sheehy and Paul Barry of Paul Barry Menswear
as we help to sponsor the event.
|
To our amazement there were a record number
of entries of both men and women this year – 95 in total
and the quality of the fashion was the best I’ve seen
this season at both tracks. It was extremely difficult to
narrow it down to only six female and four male finalists
and even more difficult to choose a winner as so many of the
entrants looked sensational, but we eventually selected Ashleigh
Robson as winner, Rebecca Anderson, runner-up.
Best Dressed Man was Ross Stevenson, well- known racing photographer.
Ross also won on Doomben Cup Day. I think his Akubra felt
fedora may have given him the edge. This race day is always
rather special with the Carnival in Brisbane ending on a high
note. |
Best-Dressed Man, Ross Stevenson with Tatts Club President,
Jonathan Bloxsom & Wife Annie |
With Fashion Winner Ashleigh Robson & Runner-up Rebecca
Anderson |
Sarah Sherlock, Tattersalls Marketing Manager
Fashion Finalist, Donna Forrest |
Fashion Judge, Catherine Sheehy
Carolyn Donovan, Fashions MC |
I’ll
be back with more chatter and pics after the Mercedes Benz
Fashion Festival.
Ciao for now.
Dale |
| Chatterbox
Archives |