Stressing over hats? Did last year’s fascinator not go down well with the judges of the Jaguar Style Stakes?
It’s that time of the year when hat boxes are taken out of storage and dusted down. The glue gun is bought out and we try to create magic with flowers and feathers to produce a masterpiece for one of the hottest events in the Dubai fashion calendar — the Dubai World Cup.
But don’t sweat it; we’ve roped in expert help. The milliners at the BurJuman International Millinery Exhibition give us the lowdown on getting hat-tastic for the races.
For a hat novice like me, chatting to Kingsley Asim-Ita, the milliner behind Itam by King’s Signature, was the perfect place to start.
“The small pieces, the head pieces, are called fascinators. Then we have the hatinators, which are too big to be a fascinator but not big enough to be a fully fledged hat,” said Asim-Ita taking me through the different types of hats. “The conventional large hats come in different types, from the large brimmed ones to the wide ones to ones with a little bird-cage veil.”
As for picking a hat, it all depends on the customer. He says he has people coming in looking for large hats with feathers and the works and then there are those who want a simple head piece with a single flower. Some people bring in the dress and look for a hat that matches it to the dot, whereas others look to colour block.
His advice is simple: try on the hat before buying it. “If you have a broad face, do not go for an oval-brimmed hat. Instead look out for a round hat with a round brim,” said the Nigerian milliner. “Those with a straight or long face can go for an oval hat — actually, most styles suit this face shape.”
Other factors that play a role include hair colour and length. He advises talking to an expert, be it a milliner or hairdresser, on whether you should be tucking your hair into a bun, leaving it loose or pulling it up into a ponytail.
“A fair lady with blonde hair came in yesterday and wanted a cream hat to match her cream dress and shoes. It didn’t suit her; her skin colour matched her hair colour and clothes,” he said. “The colour of your hat should complement your skin colour and hair as this is what people will see in a crowd.”
Hat do’s and don’ts
Philip Wright, who comes from a family of milliners who have been making ladies hats for more than 300 years, and Eme Akenzua, who studied the art of hat making under the personal milliner to the Queen Mother, Rose Cory, share their tips.
Choose your theme: “Before anything else, decide what you want to come off as on the day, elegant or outrageous, on trend or classic.”
Pick your hat before your dress. “You can look good wearing a great dress but it’s the woman wearing the ‘wow’ hat that is remembered.
“It frames the face and is the thing everyone sees above the shoulders. In a crowd people can’t see your dress — they see your hat.”
Wear it at the right angle. “Women follow rules like round hats for round faces, but they do so blindly. It is important that the hat fits right too. Hats are all about the eyes — they have to be in symmetry to your eyes and eyebrows and for this, you have to wear it at the right angle and only an expert can help you with that.”
Be comfortable: “If you’re feeling self conscious in your hat and you are constantly fiddling around with it then you will not look your best,” says Wright. “Don’t try and look outrageous just because you want to look different,” adds Akenzua. “The rule with hats is whatever you have on, make sure it does not go beyond your shoulders because if it does it means that it’s a bit big for you. It’s top heavy then.”
Think about your height: For Tall women, Akenzua recommends a hat with a low crown and broad brim, while those on the shorter side should opt for something tall to lengthen the physique rather than widen it.
Involve your hair: If you have curly or wiry hair, keep your hat simple and small so that your hair does not battle for attention. Hair colour plays a part: blondes should add a bit of colour with their hat choice, while brunettes can opt for neutral tones, purples and royal blues.
Quick and easy: Floral prints are a hot choice and an easy option for a streamlined look: Choose a colour from your dress you want to highlight and go for a fascinator in the same shade.
Don’t miss it:
Head down to the millinery exhibition on level 1, opposite the Rivoli store at BurJuman, open 10am-10pm until Friday. And for those who really leave it to the last minute, the exhibition will be on from 10am-1pm on race day.
