Get a headstart

It is the perfect opportunity for those who want to look their best at the most fashionable event on Dubai's social calendar. BurJuman has flown in seven well-known international milliners and one accessories designer to help Dubai's race-goers step out in style at the Dubai World Cup, to be held on Saturday.

Not only can you choose from a wide variety of hats, fascinators and accessories, but you can also have them customised to match your dress. And you can receive expert advice from the designers themselves on putting your entire race day look together.

We were impressed by the fantastic array of hats, headpieces and accessories on offer in the exhibition area, located at the observatory in BurJuman, and took the opportunity to get you some tips from the designers on the do's and don'ts of buying a hat and wearing it with élan to look like a million dirhams at the richest horse race in the world.

Serana Lindeman

Women who are looking for colour, texture and a feminine look will love Serana Lindeman's creations. The Australian milliner won the Myers Fashions on the Field 2006 Millinery Award at the Melbourne Cup in 2006. Her latest collection includes straw hats pleated and sculpted by hand, bright colourful storybook hats in shiny synthetic raffia and hats decorated with silk origami flowers. Lindeman also has a striking collection in black and white and a nice range of hair clips and smaller hats for children.

Here are the prize-winning designer's tips on creating a first-class look:

• Make sure your hat and dress work together. They need not be matching, but there should be a connection between the your dress, hat and accessories.
• Be comfortable and confident and put on a big smile.
• Be well groomed and pay attention to every detail of your outfit and personal grooming.
• Choose a smaller hat if you want to wear your hair long, but tying your hair up creates an illusion of height.
• Never wear a hat with a brim that goes below the shoulders because it makes you look bigger than you are.

Sabine Pedder

Sabine Pedder's collection includes hats in colours inspired by various berries and the season's popular shades of silver and gold. The milliner from Australia also has a beautiful range of black and white hats that she can customise to any outfit by adding coloured feathers.

Bailey Tomlin

Bailey Tomlin has been designing hats for 20 years and has developed what she describes as a unique, individualistic and typically British eccentric style. Her hats and novelty bags and shoes inspired by unusual themes such as peapods are meant for those who dare be to be different.

Louise MacDonald

For a cool, chic look sans feathers and flowers go for Louise MacDonald's creations. Based on different types of caps, her hats made from vintage straw are designed to complement the season's trendy 1960s-style short dresses and patent leather accessories.

Over the last 17 years MacDonald has created hats for several film and television productions in the UK. Minnie Driver, Tom Cruise, Helena Bonham Carter and Vanessa Redgrave are among the many stars who have worn her creations on screen. Her tips on buying a hat included:

• Take your dress along to ensure that the hat is the right colour.
• The hat colour need not match with the dress. You could go for a contrasting colour, but then make a link between your hat and your outfit through complementing accessories.
• A tall hat can add height to a round face, while a wide brimmed hat is better for a long face.
• Look for a hat that suits your personality and makes you feel comfortable and confident.

Yuki Saito

If you want something eccentric, dramatic, over-the-top and sure to stand out in the crowd, then head for Yuki Saito's stall. The Japanese designer, who specialises in creating theatrical wigs is presenting a collection of hats, fascinators, hair bands, hairpins and funky pink and green wigs that she has made especially for the Dubai World Cup.

"I have used velvet, felt and original kimono fabrics to decorate my hairpieces. Some of these pieces were made for theatrical productions, but I brought them along because I want people to have fun and wear something eye catching at the races," said Saito.

Philip Wright

The stall with the largest range of hats and headpieces belongs to Philip Wright, the only male milliner at this exhibition. Wright has been running his family's millinery label, called Walter Wright, for the last 15 years and his hats are worn by royalty and celebrities.

"Our company is the largest British manufacturer of millinery and we supply hats to the biggest stores in England. But I am here because this is such a great opportunity to personally meet customers from many different countries," said Wright.

"I believe that a hat is an expression of a woman's personality and the most important factor is that she should feel most comfortable in it. The right hat is the one you feel good in," he added.

He had some valuable advice for first-time hat wearers on how to buy a hat and to wear it right:

• Do not go for something tiny just because it is your first time. Pick a hat that suits your personality and gives you confidence or at least a fascinator that makes a statement.
• A hat is all about the eyes. It emphasises the line of the eyes and the eyebrows drawing attention to the face and neck. It should be worn such that it frames your face and is in line with your eyebrows and maybe even covering one eyebrow.
• Even if you don't want to buy a hat now, with seven top milliners in one place, this is a great chance to come and get good hat advice for the future.

Marilena Romeo

Marilena Romeo's creation won the best hat award at the last Dubai World Cup. The Australian is back this year with a collection inspired by the sea.

"Australian milliners have been winning a lot of awards because we are crazy and not afraid to do that little bit extra and be outrageous," she said.

But when it comes to advising her clients she is quite serious. "I look at the shoulders, neck, facial structure, chin, jaw line, skin and eye colour of a woman and the dress she plans to wear before picking a hat for her," she said.

We asked her for advice on picking an award-winning hat and she had quite a few pointers:

• Wear a dress that is feminine and classic
• Wear a hat that makes you look and feel comfortable and sits well on your head so that you do not have to adjust it all the time.
• When you go up on stage, hold your head high and look the judges in the eye and maybe do a little turn to grab their attention.
• Keep your hair on one side so that the judges can see your earrings and notice the extra effort you have put in to coordinate your accessories

Louise Harrison

If you want to liven up a simple sleeveless dress with a bright stole or shawl but don't want to be bothered by something that keeps slipping off the shoulder, check out Louise Harrison's innovative "sleeves". Made from luxurious silk, chiffon and organza, these ultra light, colourful, printed, plain and embroidered sleeves look like a stole but stay firmly on your shoulder.

If you bring your dress along, Harrison can customise the sleeves to match the dress. The Dubai-based British designer, who specialises in hand embroidered accessories, is also offering a wide range of handmade wraps, scarves, ruffles, bags and hair accessories from her collections that are retailed at top British stores such as

Harrod's, Liberty's and Fenwicks.

Go there

The BurJuman Millinery Exhibition will continue until Saturday, March 29, from 10am to 10pm at the Observatory in BurJuman.

All the milliners are available to guide customers and customise hats and accessories to suit their race day outfits.