The Hat Box - Brisbane Arcade

CHATTERBOX
Cherished clients, In September, the Queensland Turf Club held a lunch for Young Members in their new, revamped bar and dining area under the St Leger stand. The invited guests certainly enjoyed the delicious buffet and the environs were very pleasant. FIRST ROUND OF MYER FASHIONS ON THE FIELD NATIONAL COMPETITION The Myer and Victoria Racing Club sponsored fashion competition attracted approximately 80 entrants	who went all out to impress and who wouldn't with a prize of nine all expenses paid days at the Melbourne Cup Carnival and a chance to win a business class trip for two to Dubai flying Emirates Airline. It was the best-dressed line-up I've seen for quite a while. Any one of the finalists could have won. I sat with the judges and know how difficult the choice was. The eventual winners were Kimberley Busteed of Gladstone, First Prize, Maria Dalziel of Cairns, Second and Lauren Walker of Chandler, Third.	Winners of the Qld Myer Fashions on the Field Maria Dalziel, Kimberley Busteed, Lauren Walker Photo courtesy of Ross Stevenson

THE PANAMA HAT STORY I now stock the legendary Panama hats, for both men and women and I thought you might like to know a little more about them. Their origins date back through South American history and were worn by the Incas. Panama hats first came to the attention of the world in the early 1900s when workers building the Panama canal	wore them for protection against the burning sun and the U.S President Roosevelt was photographed wearing one while watching construction. From there, the hat was taken to Europe where it immediately became a fashion sensation when the Prince of Wales wore one to the races. The artists Van Gogh and Monet immortalized them. In more recent times, they have been worn by world leaders as diverse as Kruschev and Winston Churchill, movie stars like Clark Gable, who wore the planter style in “Gone with the Wind” and Robert Redford who wouldn’t have looked half as cool without his fedora in “The Great Gatsby”. The name “Panama” is a misnomer as the hat doesn’t actually originate there, but is made exclusively in Equador and	is hand woventhere from the fibre of the Toquilla palm by the Indians of that country in the same traditional way, taught by one generation to the next. These weavers however, have decreased in number in recent years due to Equador’s changing economy and there remains today only a dozen or so weavers capable of making the finest straw hats in the world – the Montecristi superfinos. The quality of a Montecristi (named after the town where they are made) is measured by the fineness of its weave and the rows in its crown. At present, I have one only of these masterpieces, in size 57, woven by the master craftsman, Manuel Lopez Espinal, priced at $500. Other sizes may be ordered but as they are rare there is a waiting period for them. They come with a stamped balsa wood box and are rolled inside when	not in use – perfect for travelling. I also stock a wide range of finos and non finos in a variety of styles: classic fedora, executive, planter, highlander. Colours include: natural, cream and light tan and are all trimmed with the traditional black petersham ribbon which originates from the year 1901, the year that saw the death of Queen Victoria. The ladies’ medium and wide brim styles come in a range of colours, including pastels. Once you’ve purchased your Panama hat, you’ll find it cool, lightweight and long wearing. To maintain its pristine condition and elegant look, it only needs a sponge over with a damp cloth and a little soap from time to time.

WOMEN IN RACING LUNCH AT TATTERSALL'S CLUB The pre Melbourne Cup Women in Racing Lunch attracted such a large crowd that the ballroom at Tattersall's Club was packed - and what a glamorous crowd it was! Almost every woman in the room had something fabulous on her head - and many from the Hat Box. It's wonderful to see hats making such a big comeback. The Hat Box staged the fashion parade along with jewellery from Hardy Bros. I had the pleasure of compering the parade with the charming John Mansfield, manager of Hardy Bros. Thank you to my beautiful models, my daughter Fleur, friends and clients Donna and Priscilla and milliner Alexandra.		The Cup Tatt's."Look but don't touch!"	Margaret Lenehan at Tattersall's
		The attraction was The Melbourne Cup itself, brought to Brisbane by VRC's Joe McGrath, who found time to buy his wife one of the hats from the parade. What a good husband!	Congratulations must go to Jennie Bartels and Baslyn Beel who work so tirelessly for racing and who have made us aware that it is not just a man's game.
Pam Larsen, Effie Cliff and Judy Brine at Tattersall's		Ros Tilse, Roma Blair and Lorraine Dickinson at Tattersall's

THE RACE THAT STOPS A NATION This year my husband and I made a whirlwind trip to the Melbourne Cup. What a great day it always is - in spite of the cold weather and icy winds. We thoroughly enjoyed the hospitality of Myer and the VRC.	Thank you so much, Katie Flockart. It was great to catch up with some of the greats of millinery. Chatted with Phillip Rhodes and Kevin Kelley who are delightful company. The Hat Box stocks Phillip's beautiful hats. His Cup collection was so divine I had to have one and wore it recently at Eagle Farm.	Also gossiped with the supremely talented Peter Jago who was so kind and helpful to me when I started the business. Finally met Richard Nylon after having only chatted on the phone - an amazing talent!	Looked for Neil Grigg but was told he was running late as he was bringing down from Sydney a last minute special order for a client. I'm proud to have him as one of my stockists - he is one of the best in Australia. It was a wonderfully social day and no, I didn't have a win.
	Above: Enjoying Myer hospitality at The Fashion Enclosure with milliner Sandra Robson and friend Julie Phillips Left: With milliner Richard Nylon. Right: Sharing a champagne moment with Phillip Rhodes

Oaks Day at Pier Nine Back in Brisbane, the festivities continued on Oaks Day at Pier Nine restaurant where the Chicks in Pink hold their annual lunch. This group of caring young women raise money for breast cancer research whilst ensuring guests have a fun day. Owner, Matthew Hill-Smith and his staff ensure that the food and service are always excellent. I decided to get another wear out of my Melbourne Cup outfit (as did many of the guests!) and I was glad I did as I was awarded the best dressed prize. Thank you to Kennedy & Forbes for my suit and Sandra Robson who designed my hat to match.	Oaks Day at Pier Nine: standing: Kerrina King, me, Lorraine Dickinson: seated: Julie Phillips, Meredith McMaster		I will be bringing you all the photos of my fashionable clients at the Magic Millions in January. Until then, ciao for now Dale