“Hats are radical,” the revolutionary Irish milliner Phillip Treacy once said. With the Dubai World Cup now only a few days ahead, we went to the annual BurJuman Millinery Exhibition and asked four designers, flown in from the UK, for their top tips when buying a headdress. Because at the world’s richest horse race, nothing but a radical look will do.
Rebekah Patterson (www.rebekahmillinery.com)
“Always buy the hat first! If you find that perfect hat you can then plan your outfit around it. Look for something that reflects your personality, use colours you already like, and that feels comfortable. Practice wearing it around the house for a little while before the big day out.”
Marilena Romeo (www.marilenaromeomillinery.com)
“Colours. A good fashion sense is always using three colours. For example, the hat predominantly has one feature colour and the other two colours complement that feature colour. Your outfit should accordingly complement your hat as one of the feature colours.”
Lee Edmondson, Christiane’s husband, is presenting her wares at the exhibition.
Christiane Edmondson (www.christianemillinery.com)
“The one thing you have to be precise about is the image you would like to create for yourself in this particular event. If you are looking to stand out, I would suggest bright colours with feather elements on your hat. If you are looking for a classic look, go for something sleeker.”
Liza Georgia Millinery (www.lizageorgiamillinery.com)
“When you are buying a fascinator, you should consider your shoulder frame. Your hat should never exceed the width of your shoulders as your general outlook will be proportionally unbalanced. Fascinator is a culture on its own, and certain criteria need to be met. My suggestion is never to go over the top.”
THE DETAILS
The Burjuman Millinery Exhibition runs until March 25 at the mall’s main atrium. It’s open to all mall visitors during mall hours. Tickets to the Dubai World Cup, inclusive of the after-race concert featuring Janet Jackson, start at Dh450 for Apron Views. Other hospitality packages are also available. For more information, go to www.meydan.ae.
