Cherished clients,

I’m now back in the Land of Oz after two wonderful and busy weeks in London, but more about that later. First I’d like to revisit the Winter Racing Carnival in Brisbane with its amazing fashion and Group 1 racing.

DOOMBEN CUP

May is always a beautiful time of year in our city and so it was on Doomben Cup day. I caught up with many of my lovely clients and watched the Fashions on the Field with great interest as this was the most elegant field I had seen in some time. The judges had a most difficult task but eventually chose Ashleigh Robson, who was Queensland finalist in the Fashions at the Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington last year.

Once again, her beautiful outfit and hat were made by her very talented grandmother, Sandra Robson. Runner-up was Angela Menz, who flew up from Canberra for the day and third was Laura Flynn. Unfortunately, Fashions on the Field was postponed the following Saturday, Doomben 10,000 Day, due to inclement weather.

Ashleigh Robson – Doomben Cup Fashion Winner

Angela Menz and Natalie Letford at Doomben Cup.

Dale and Sandra Robson

OAKS DAY EAGLE FARM

Ladies day saw all of the glamour girls out in force. This is my favourite day on Brisbane’s racing calendar as my daughter Fleur and I are invited guests in the Treasury Casino’s always fabulous marquee. This year the theme was, co-incidentally, Royal Ascot. As I was already in Royal Ascot mode with my trip to London less than two weeks away, I had no trouble dressing the part.

On the fashion front, there seemed to be a record number of entrants, with Angela Menz taking out first prize this time around. An added attraction was the inclusion of a Millinery Award for the first time. This was won by the House of Windsor and modelled by the beauteous Laura Flynn.

Runner-up was The Hat Box’s Alexandra Harper who modelled her own creation, a white felt platter hat.

Back in the Casino marquee, sisters Atlanta and Chanel Stoyle jointly won Best hat in their Hat Box chapeaux, presented to them by Channel 9’s Cameron Williams.

Angela Menz - Oaks day Fashion Winner. (photo Ross Stevenson)

Chanel and Atlanta Stoyle – Best Hat Winners in Casino Marquee with Cameron Williams.

Alexandra Harper – Runner-up Millinery Award.

STRADBROKE HANDICAP

The following Saturday the beautiful people were back for Queensland racing’s biggest day. My milliners and I were bunkered down in Style Magazine’s fashion Marquee, enjoying champagne and a dainty hight tea.

What a surprise it was when a man won the fashions on the Field for the first time ever. You could say the controversial win was a shock as members of the crowd debated the decision. The winner, Andrew Byrne, who owns the Cloakroom, a gentleman’s bespoke tailoring establishment, wore a grey suit, blue tie, brown gloves and no hat! Second prize was won by Donna Wheeler in a Cue outfit and an Elizabeth R hat from The Hat Box and third place was Amy Robson, sister of Ashleigh.

Dale with Julie Phillips in the Fashion Marquee.

Gladys Harley, Patricia Balmer and Trish McCormack.

MC, Emily Jade O’Keefe

Winners on Stradbroke Day, Amy Robson and Donna Wheeler.

QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY DOOMBEN

Two days later, it was a small crowd who witnessed Nicole Melit take fashion honours in another stunning ensemble by Sandra Robson. Another stunner was Anna Mott of www.racingfashion.com.au who was wearing a divine Prada lace creation with matching shoes.

Dale and Anna Mott at Doomben.

Nicole Melit – Winner Fashions on the Field

Tattersall’s day

While I was away off on my business trip, The Hat Box client, beautiful Kady Brandon won Fashions on the Field on Tattersall’s day in a vibrant red Covers suit and striking hat by Meredith McMaster.

OPENING DAY ROYAL ASCOT

A few days later, I was winging my way to London to check out millinery trends in the UK and hopefully to buy from the world’s best milliners. And what better place than Royal Ascot to see what’s new in the style stakes. Also in London were my milliner friends Ann Boyle, Sandra Robson and Peggy Stone from Sydney.

Accompanying me to the track was my friend Lorraine Dickinson from the Gold Coast. We were fortunate enough to acquire Royal Enclosure tickets for the opening day, Tuesday 16th June and arrived in style in a chauffeur driven limousine. The weather was fine and sunny, if a little cool, and the new grandstand was most impressive – huge and ultra-modern.

I found English fashion to be classical and elegant with the ladies favouring large brimmed hats, however there were some striking exceptions. One of the best dressed women in the royal enclosure was Hilary Pickard of York who told me her stunning headpiece of tubular crinoline was made by Eleda Hats of Leeds.

It was wonderful to see how the gentlemen varied their prescribed dress of top hat and tails by wearing different coloured shirts, ties and vests to co-ordinate their ensembles. They really looked very dapper and I thought how fabulous it would be if men adopted this attire for the Melbourne Cup.

Lorraine and I witnessed the royal carriage procession down the course with the Queen’s family arriving in a series of open landaus drawn by Windsor greys. Her Majesty, wearing a sunshine yellow silk outfit and hat, was seated in the first carriage with the Duke of Edinburgh and their son, the Duke of York. Following them, in the second carriage rode Prince Charles, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Princess Beatrice. Both women wore stylish Philip Treacy hats as did many others in the royal enclosure. A special treat was watching Aussie horse Scenic Blast win the second race. It was a fantastic day, full of colour and spectacle.

The Duchess of Cornwall and Princess Beatrice.

Guests in the Royal Enclosure.

Dale at the Gates of Ascot being welcomed by officials.

Lorraine Dickinson. Opening Day of Royal Ascot.

The elegant Hilary Pickard of York.

HIGH TEA AT THE RITZ

The following day we met our fellow Australian hat lovers for high tea at the Ritz Hotel and to compare notes on our adventures. We were joined by former Ipswich milliner, Steve Harrison, now a resident of London. Steve has recently set up a millinery workroom and studio and intends to be a Londoner for some time to come. I wish him good luck for a successful career.

LADIES DAY AT ROYAL ASCOT

Next day saw us back at Royal Ascot for Ladies Day. On this day Lorraine and I were guests in the exclusive Parade Ring Restaurant in the royal enclosure. What made it so special was its location – on one side the balcony overlooked the parade ring and we were able to watch the trophies being presented to winning owners, and on the other side we were adjacent to the Royal box enabling us to observe all of the members of the royal family close up as they passed by. That was such a thrill!

Being Ladies Day the fashion was more adventurous and in some cases, bizarre. A bit like Flemington on Melbourne Cup day! However, several of the royal ladies looked particularly stylish, including Princess Anne in a floaty pale green silk and chiffon number and Princess Michael in a dove grey silk suit with a cream Philip Treacy hat. One of the highlights of the day was a Vivienne Westwood fashion parade, with the models wearing stunning Stephen Jones headpieces. Another memorable day.

Dale and Sandra Robson – ready for ladies Day.

Three “Sweet” girls at Ascot.

Dale and Ann Boyle at the Parade Ring.

Entertainers at Ascot, Ladies day.

Dale and Lorraine Dickinson lunching in the Parade Ring Restaurant.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip arriving at Royal Ascot Ladies Day.

Her Majesty presenting the Gold Cup to owners of Winning Horse, Yeats.

Truth is, I was completely blown away after seeing so many fabulous hats at Royal Ascot and I knew Brisbane ladies would welcome the opportunity to wear headpieces from the two best milliners in the world. My first visit was to the workroom of Philip Treacy. I was made very welcome by Philip, who is utterly charming and completely unassuming, as well as his lovely staff, Stefan and Nina. After much deliberation, as everything was to die for, I made my choices and you, my dear clients, will be able to make yours when they arrive in early Spring. Get in early as I think they will sell very fast.

Later that week, I visited Stephen Jones’ pretty little boutique at Covent Garden. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to meet him personally as he was in Paris working on the collections, but his manager, the delightful Cornelia De Uphaugh, ably took care of me as I made my purchases there and, once again, I wanted to buy the whole shop. I do love hats! These beautiful creations will also be available early September.

No mistake, these are the two of the very best milliners in the world and their work is very, very different! Both will be welcome additions to The Hat Box.

And some exciting news for us Brisbanites. Stephen and his staff will be bringing “Hats: An Anthology by Stephen Jones”, the show he curated at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, to Brisbane next March. Unfortunately, I missed it in London as it closed at the end of May but Ann Boyle, one of The Hat Box milliners, did catch it and said it was remarkable. It’s a millennium-spanning history of headwear, from an Egyptian mask circa 600BC to modern pieces from private collections and the remainder Jones’s own designs – around 400 pieces in all. I look forward to seeing it – and meeting the man himself.

During my London sojourn I saw lots of hats and lots of hat shops. Visited the Millinery Dept at Harrods and was castigated by a very irate employee for taking photographs. Oh well, my motives were pure. From talking to industry insiders, I believe model millinery is alive and thriving in both the UK and Australia and does not seem to be affected by the worldwide economic downturn. Innovations and creativity are flourishing everywhere and we, the wearers are the happy recipients.

For years I have claimed The Hat Box represents the best milliners in Australia, but now I can honestly say we represent the best milliners in the world. Thank you to my wonderful milliners Patricia Balmer, Alexandra Harper, Shirley Howie and Meredith McMaster for pitching in and helping out by keeping the shop open while I was away and by making excellent sales to boot! You girls are the best.

John Boyd Milliner.

Harrods Millinery Dept.

Ciao for now.

Dale