Cherished clients,

I am delighted to announce that my beautiful long awaited Spring hats have finally arrived from London. Also a lovely selection by Phillip Rhodes of Melbourne is now in stock for the Spring racing Carnival. Here is just a teaser below.

Pop in to the shop to admire the full range. Some of you may have admired the avant-garde headwear accompanying George Wu’s evening gowns at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Festival. I know I certainly did and met Paula Kyle Walden, their designer after the show. I managed to persuade her to allow me to represent her. Paula is a jeweller by profession and a very talented young woman. Check out her amazing creations in The Hat Box soon.

Hat by Stephen Jones

Hat by Phillip Rhodes

Stephen Jones in his workroom

Hat by Philip Treacy

Headpiece by Paula Kyle Walden

MERCEDES BENZ FASHION FESTIVAL SWIMWEAR PARADE

The end of August brings the always anticipated MBFF. A week of divine fashion from Queensland and beyond. This year I collaborated with Karen Neilsen, the Gold Coast swimwear designer to provide dainty floral headpieces and cheeky bows to accompany her 1950’s inspired swimsuits. The setting was a gorgeous sunny Sunday on the fabulous cruiser MV Fantasea that was docked at Portside Wharf. We designers and models were tucked away in the ship’s cabins below deck until the parade commenced with the models strutting their stuff down the gangplank and parading in front of the audience seated in the rows along the wharf. They then re-embarked the Fantasea, disappearing into the bowels of the ship to change. It was very effective choreography and one of the highlights of the festival as usual.

Model wearing headpiece by Meredith McMaster.

MBFF JEWELLERY PARADE AT ROOM WITH ROSES

The following Friday morning brought the last function of the festival, The Brisbane Arcade jewellery and fashion parade and high tea in the lovely Room With Roses.

As it was the last showing, all of the festival directors attended and enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere. Many of the Arcade boutique owners attended, as well as my milliners who needed no encouragement to be part of it all as they enjoy seeing their hats worn by professional models.

An enjoyable morning and a fitting end to a wonderful week.

Model wearing Pia Du Pradal dress and Meredith McMaster hat.

The Hat Box milliners.

Model Carolyn Donovan wearing Irma J Smith suit and hat by Kathy Neuman.

BRISBANE ARCADE PARADE FOR MATER HOSPITAL

One of the charities which Brisbane Arcade retailers support every year is the Mater Foundation. Our Spring Parade and morning tea at the Sebel Citigate Hotel is one of the best parades in Brisbane due to the professionalism of Pam Tamblyn who chooses her models, the clothing from all of the boutiques in the Arcade, and then comperes at the morning tea. A huge job but she makes it seem effortless.

My job is to choose the headwear to accompany all of the outfits, a fairly demanding task but the outcome is worth it when you hear the gasps of approval from the audience when the models make their entrance. My table of 10 ladies thoroughly enjoyed themselves and I know they’ll all be back again next year.

Sandra Robson, Dale and Julie Phillips.

Megan Gore-Jones and Ann Boyle.

Phyllis Tegg and Shirley Howie.

Model wearing House of Dower and Ann Boyle fascinator.

Brisbane Arcade Parade at the Sebel Hotel.

Model wearing Bora gown and headpiece by Patricia Anne.

WOMEN IN RACING LUNCH GOLD COAST TURF CLUB

The committee room at the Gold Coast Turf Club was the venue for the pre-Melbourne Cup lunch this year, the first time the cup itself has been shown on the Coast. I always enjoy travelling down to the Coast for the functions there, as the Gold Coast ladies certainly know how to enjoy themselves. I also look forward to seeing the fashion as they are consistently very stylish and have a flair for colour which you don’t see down south. The directors of Women in Racing have certainly been through the wars this year with Jennie Bartels still not back in high heels after breaking her lower leg severely after the Magic Millions and Baslyn Beel just out of hospital after suffering pneumonia. These two gals really live by the adage ‘the show must go on!’

It was wonderful to see the lovely Anna Mott of Racing Fashion Australia fame (www.racingfashion.com.au) accept my invitation to fly up from Melbourne for the day. She told me she is looking forward to spending a week on the coast in January with her husband Steven and baby daughter Amelie for the Magic Millions.

Suzanne Cotton and Jessie Peace

Patricia Balmer, Ann Boyle, Karen Valentine and Baslyn Beel.

Alexandra Harper and Meredith McMaster.

MYER/VRC QLD FASHIONS ON THE FIELD FINALS

No Spring Racing carnival is complete without Fashion and on 10th October it was Queensland’s turn to provide a winner who will compete against the other State finalists in the Myer/Victoria Racing Club’s Fashions on the Field at Flemington on Oaks Day.

This year’s surprise choice, Dayna Wandrey, was a departure from previous winners who were sleekly sophisticated and were wearing Melbourne’s favourite colour – black with white or cream. Her handmade bright pink ensemble with floral bolero with tails…”maked (sic) by my Auntie Debbie” was teamed with a small black cocktail hat from ebay and black and white sandals. Crowd favourites were third placed Tricia Molachino in fuchsia from head to toe and finalist Fleur Cowlishaw in black and white, both of whom were very polished from head to toe. Obviously the criteria have changed this year, but it’s a pity nobody bothered to tell the participants in advance.

Fashion line up. Winner Dayna Wandrey 2nd from left.

Alyse and Olivia Robertson.

Anne Williamson and Patricia Balmer.

Watching the Fashions with Lauren & Desley Walker

Runner-up Michelle Mullen, Winner Dayna Wandrey & 3rd Tricia Molachino

Fashion observer Nicole Mellit.

Fashion Judge and last year’s winner, Ashleigh Robson.

Finalist Fleur Cowlishaw.

Third place getter, Tricia Molachino.

A big thank you to Ross Stevenson of www.qldracingphotos.blogspot.com for supplying several of the Fashions on the Field pics. I’ll be in Melbourne in less than a fortnight for the Spring Carnival and I’m really looking forward to it. You’ll see all
of the pics when I get back.

Ciao for now

Dale