As the Dubai World Cup (DWC) comes nearer and nearer, the question on everyone’s minds is this: what hat will I wear? The truth of the matter is you might not be able to get your hands on a hat at all.
While some shops are still selling the classic headpieces in preparation for the March 29 annual horse race — an event that calls for elegance and style — other shops have moved on to something more modern, streamlined and practical: the hatinator. Why, you ask?
“Hats are no good. People just don’t want hats anymore,” says Angela Walton, owner of Oasis Fashion at Wafi City.
The small, colourful shop, filled with a variety of pieces, has been known to create some of the winning creations at the DWC’s Jaguar Style Stake’s competition. But where they once thrived on selling and customising anatomically-correct hats, they now only offer fascinators and hatinators in all shapes and sizes — feathered, flowered, beaded, wrapped in ribbon and some even overflowing with springy butterflies
Walton’s daughter, Paula Robinson, says the medium-sized “plate-style” pieces — named after their wide brim — are some of the most popular this year.
“It does look like you’ve got a hat on, but it’s actually on a band, so it’s a hatinator,” she said, plopping a purple one on her head to demonstrate.
Wearers are able to sport the hatinator without worrying if it’s slipped, moved or gone lopsided. And with the light-weight nature of them, and the removal of bulky excess material, women can wear the most fanciful, larger-than-life designs and feel light as a feather. Bonus: ladies don’t have to worry about the scorching heat getting trapped in the crown of a hat or whether their hair will be a mess once it comes off.
The custom hatinators are created from small, medium or large bases, set on simple, easy-to-wear headbands, and structured from there depending on the customer’s desired aesthetic, explains Walton.
“I select the bases in England and I have them dyed to the season’s colours and then we add on,” she said. Of this season’s popular colours, she added: “Nude. And people still love black and white. Blue is still very in from last year.”
Robinson says royal or navy blue is a particularly good sell when it comes to the races. “Because people sometimes like to go for a bit more of a conservative look — over the years, it always seems to be a colour that comes back in,” she said.
And while both ladies are there to advise customers on what might look good — and sometimes encourage them to try things on that are out of their comfort zone — they also insist that “anything goes”.
“It’s an opportunity to really go for it and go completely wild — which is what we like!” Robinson said.
And if you’re a last minute kind of gal, Robinson said to worry not — they’re known to be up making hats until two in the morning before race day, and their services are even frantically sought after on the day itself. You don’t have to go big or go home, either. Their pieces range from simple and subtle at an affordable Dh75 to what Walton calls their “big productions”, selling for a bank-breaking Dh950.
Do it right
It’s easy to match a headpiece to a dress, but a few extra touches will help set you apart from the crowd. Here are some tips to take your look to the next level:
— Create a sense of symmetry by wearing your hair in a low bun on the opposite side of your hatinator.
— For tall girls, accentuate your height by wearing a hatinator with a wide brim; avoid going too high with the top decorations and feathers.
— For tall hats, wearing heels is key or proportions might look odd. But remember: stilettos are no good in the grass, so stick to a comfortable wedge instead.
— For those with reserved personalities, small beret-style fascinators are available — and if you want something even more subtle, try out a simple flower clip.
— Those who are more boisterous and bold can opt for the “firework” hatinator, which features dozens of feathers that spout in every direction.
— Pair your brightly coloured outfit with a hatinator of a completely different colour, and bring the look together by matching your hatinator to your shoes, bag and accessories.
