There’s a smile on every face
and a winner in each race
where the turf meets the surf
at old Del Mar

Johnny Burke/Bing Crosby/James V. Monaco)

“And there’s the roar from the Del Mar crowd as the 2008 Del Mar meet is underway.” with track announcer Trevor Denman’s trademark call began one of the red letter days in the thoroughbred racing year, opening day at Del Mar . This sea side racetrack opened in the resort town of Del Mar, 20 miles North of San Diego in 1937 and continues to provide a backdrop for fine horses, eye catching headwear and celebrities. On the very first day of racing, Del Mar, known by it’s slogan “Where the turf meets the surf”, tickets were collected by Bing Crosby, one of the facility’s founding partners.

Today, Delmar hosts 43 days of top thoroughbred racing and an intriguing event called “The One and Only Truly Fabulous Hat Contest” in which entrants are judged on creativity and style of their hats. This July 14, Del Mar’s 69th opening day was attended by over 40, 000 race fans sporting hats that ran the gamut from the ridiculous to the sublime. The hat contest entrants competed for prizes in the following categories.

• Best racing theme
• funniest or most outrageous
• Most glamorous
• Best flowers.

The prizes range from two free race passes (awarded to every contestant) to a large format television and cash prizes.

Polly Singer Couture Hats and Veils is pleased to have been represented at Del Mar. We’ve just received the following delightful feedback from a customer and racing fan. Maureen wrote,
“We had a great time at Opening Day and my hat was a big hit! ”
Below Maureen and her daughter Amber are captured trackside; Maureen perfectly accessorized by Cate’s Fuschia Mist, her daughter Amber well turned out in a legacy hat from her late grandmother.

Call it living vicariously, if you will, but we’re thrilled to receive photos and impressions of events that Polly’s hats attend. Below is another photo from Del Mar’s opening day sent to us by Karen whose variation of Holly Go Lightly at Churchill provided both shade and chic.

Another of Polly’s contributions to the Del Mar fashion scene was a hat designed for TVG reporter Christina Olivares. Christina has a lifetime history with Del Mar where, as a young girl, she ponied and walked “hots” (horses who have just worked and must be hand walked to safely cool down) for her father jockey and trainer Frank Olivares. This year Christine made a complete departure from the large brimmed Go For the Green design that she wore in 2007 in favor of a fascinator, the head piece so in evidence this year at Royal Ascot.

After receiving a photograph of Ms. Olivares’ dress, Polly designed a small yet elaborate head piece in shades of taupe, peacock green and marine blue. The piece was visually anchored by a large taupe silk rose and ornamented with peacock feathers, custom dyed stripped coque and a wisp of natural colored veiling. True to the designer’s chief objective, that of showcasing the woman, not what she’s wearing, Polly delivered a charming head piece that complemented Ms. Olivares petite features as well as the multi colored print silk dress she had chosen to wear on air.

The Del Mar racing season runs from July 16 through Sept . 3 featuring events which include the ever tempting Donut Day (free donuts and coffee while watching morning workouts) and Pacific Classic Day, the highlight of the season, a grade 1 stakes race in which the nations top horses compete for a million dollar purse.

There are a dozen more race days left in the Del Mar season, for more information on visit delmarracing.com.

What’s in a name? Everything it seems. Naming a child, business or even pet is difficult. And when times change, needs change as well.

We have done business since 2004 under the name of All You Need Is Love Hats and Veils. Recently, we decided to change to just my name, Polly Singer. We thought it would be easier for our clients, having to remember just my name, instead of a longer name. Most designers go under their names. Plus trying to answer a busy phone with the All You Need Is Love name was becoming more difficult as time went on!

Personally, I’ve never been one to like the spotlight. I don’t enjoy being the center of attention and didn’t want to have the business be focused on myself. I wanted to have a business name that conveyed fun, love and that would bring a smile to people’s faces. But as times change and my name gets out there more, I have to change and go with my name.

Quite honestly, if I could go as just “Hats and Veils”, I probably would! There’s a part of me that loves being the in the background, just blending in.

Polly Singer Couture Hats and Veils has a new logo font. (shown below) We’re also working on tempting new packaging.

Long range, we plan to make revisions to the web site, changes that are intended to make it both more aesthetically pleasing as well as more user friendly. This is something I’d like your help on. Have you any suggestions, or complaints about the website? Anything you may have noticed that might improve your shopping experience. If so, please respond via comments on this blog (click “comment” below) or by email: polly@hatsandveils.net.

Finally, let me assure you, while we may have dropped the sentiment from the business name, we still believe that all you really need is love.

BY: Polly Singer

“Nothing you ever do for a child is wasted.”
Garrison Keillor

Hats and martini’s and hope , what a concept! One of the good things about working at Polly Singer Couture Hats and Veils is that we get advance news of the most fascinating events. The most recent one we yearn to attend is The Hats and Martinis for Hope, a fund raising benefit for the Kids Beating Cancer Foundation.

The theme of this year’s event is Cary Grant’s most romantic movie, ‘An Affair to Remember.’ The party, a fantasy cruise to the top of the Empire State Building, (The Empire State Building, because, according to the movie “It’s the closest thing to heaven.”) It will take place aboard a replica of the USS Constitution where guests arrayed in their most fabulous hats will be served gourmet hors d’oeuvres and desserts, sip pink champagne and a variety of martinis while dancing to the music of Michael Andrew and his Atomic Big Band. The preferred dress is black tie and attendees are reminded not to forget their pillboxes, fascinators, large brims, cloches, beret, fedoras, top hats, couture, and zany hats.

The heads up comes from, Margaret Guedes, pictured below (wearing one of the Audrey variations). Margaret is the co-founder of Kids Beat Cancer and a delightful client. Polly has provided hats for a number of guests of the previous years’ galas and has donated one of her most popular designs, Ascot 2008 to this year’s event’s hat auction.

It sounds like a wonderful evening and we mustn’t forget that it is for a wonderful cause. Guedes entreats, “Be the ONE. Be the ONE and change the outcome. Be the ONE and make a difference. Be the ONE to give the only hope for a cure to a child with cancer. Be the ONE and Sponsor this life-saving event.”

Hats, martinis, dance music and pink champagne, plus the opportunity to be an instrument of hope. We encourage you to check out the event web site, attend if you can, donate if at all possible. Best of luck with the event Mrs. Guedes, and bon voyage.

Event Details:

What: Hats Martinis and Hope

Why: Proceeds to Fund the Lab Testing to Identify Compatible Marrow & Stem Cell Donors for Children & Adults in need of Life-Saving Transplants, A Cost Never Covered by Insurance.

When: September 6, 2008, 6 pm to 11 pm

Where: Rosen Plaza, Orlando Florida

Information: www.kidsbeatingcancer.com/handm.html

Contact: Margaret Guedes, CEO & Founder  
Sponsorships, Corporate Packages, & Individual Admissions
(407) 894-2888 or
Toll Free 1 (866) 800-HOPE

by Jan Masters Yon

Those of you who caught Polly’s appearance on WLEX’s noon show segment on bridal wear would have noticed fashions from Lexington’s Bluegrass-Bride. The Lexington shop provided an elegant lace suit modeled by our mother of the bride, Jane Lowery, as well as the stunning cobalt blue dress Polly wore on air and is wearing in her image on the Polly Singer website.

Polly Singer Couture Hats and Veils has done several collaborations with Bluegrass-Bride. Polly’s designed hats for their customers, notably Derby commentator Nancy Cox, and created hats to complement their Bluegrass-Brides Derby line which was on display at the Mint Julep Boutique event this past spring. The shop is such a great resource for any woman who’s planning her wedding or searching for a dressy little something for any special occasion. Because Polly’s received many compliments on her Bluegrass Brides ensemble and since our experiences with the establishment have been so positive, we think you might enjoy learning a little more about the the shop.

Lexington based Bluegrass-Bride, was established in 2007 by the sisters Anna and Susan Johnson. We all played “Bride: as little girls, the Johnson sisters literally grew up in the bridal wear industry, working in their mother’s store, a Wedding Place, located in Greenville, SC for over 15 years. The sisters decided to carry on that tradition with a modern twist by opening their own place in Lexington. Fashion and horses are two of their other passions, so Lexington seemed the perfect location. Bluegrass Bride primarily caters to brides, offering an unparalleled array of bridal wear and ensembles for the bridal party, however, we’ve found the boutique to be a rich source for evening wear, cocktail, and Derby dresses as well; fashions for any dressy event one can name. As they describe their business, “elegance for special occasions”.

Just as women’s roles have changed since our mothers’ generation, certainly the accepted ettiquette for weddings and entertaining have been through considerable revision. I can remember when pastels were the only acceptable colors for bridesmaids’ dresses and it was unthinkable, even as a guest, to wear black to a wedding or reception.The consultants at Bluegrass-Bride have a finger on the pulse of fashion in bridal and evening wear, for my own edification and yours, I put a few questions to the experts. In an interview with store manager Calhoun Clifton, I asked if she would be so kind as to pass on some of the trends she’s spotted.

First, Calhoun pointed out a change in silhouette, that is, we’re seeing gowns that are fitted through the body, then begin to flare at the knee. Crumb Catcher bocices are also making a stir on the bridal catwalks. The crumbcatcher is the unflattering term used for a gown that has a scalloped effect neckline. In addition to giving the gown a soft sculptual look, this style bodice has the advantage of giving the illusion of a larger bust and, it does have a practical advantage of catching wedding cake crumbs.

As the age range in which women typically marry has become broader, brides come in varied ages, shapes and types. Calhoun offered these suggestions for the atypical brides. In working with mature brides, ladies postponing marriage until late thirties or early 40’s, as well as women celebrating second marriages, she she steers away from the Big Gown in favor of sophisticated dresses and suits.

On her wedding day everyone wants to be the most striking woman in the room, ladies at either end of the size spectrum are not exceptions. Bluegrass-Bride carries dresses in all sizes. Whether the prospective bride be petite or plus sized, the consultants at Bluegrass Bride are experienced in helping her make the the choices that will put her in the gown of her dreams.

And finally, having the ear of an expert in the field, I had to ask: Bridezilla, fact or myth? Susan explained that most brides are not the like the ones you see on T.V., taking the “all about me attitude.” In fact, according to Calhoun, the boutique has had very little experience of the Bridezilla phenomena. Is the Bridezilla non-indigenous to the Bluegrass area? It’s my opinion that the staff at Bluegrass Bride with it’s focus on the marriage and celebration of family brings out the best in every woman who shops there, the Taming of the Bridezilla, if you will.

If you’d like to see more of the fashions available from Bluegrass-Bride an exellent opportunity is coming up. The theme is “Get Ready and Trendy for Keeneland”, The Doncaster Fall Prewiew Launch and will take place, Monday through Friday, August 11 - 22. In the simply Social Room at BGB.

For more information contact:

Bluegrass Bride
4384 Clearwater Way Suite 180
(In the Harland area, just off Tates Creek Road)
Lexington, KY 40515

859.245.0060
info@bluegrass-bride.com
www.bluegrass-bride.com

by Jan Masters Yon

As a milliner, I often get asked by clients, “How do I cope with hat hair?”. As any hat wearer knows, in the dog days of summer, our heads can get drenched with perspiration while wearing a hat. Our heads generate heat. That’s why in the winter, we are told to wear hats to keep in our body heat.

I’ve been assisted in my latest battle against “hat hair” with a dry shampoo product. I was shopping at Sephora and was told that Oscar Blandi’s Pronto Dry Shampoo Spray was helpful. I have to say, I am addicted. It really breathes life into stale, limp hair. On the can, it says that Oscar Blandi invented this product to use on photo shoots, where shampooing a model’s hair couldn’t be done. Another extra bonus - the Dry Shampoo Spray is cruelty free.

Benefits:
- Absorbs excess oil and product build up without weighing hair down and without stripping precious oils from the scalp
- Increases volume at the roots
- Strengthens hair and nourishes scalp
- Leaves hair smelling fresh and clean with the light fragrance of lemon verbena

Key Ingredients:
- Natural rice and oat starches cleanse the hair
- Vitamins B5 and E strengthen and protect

How to use:
- Hold can 6-8” away from head and spray product onto scalp and hair, especially at roots.
- Allow to dry before using fingers to shake out excess product.
- Brush out thoroughly.
- Style hair as desired

Let me know what you think about this hair care product. For more information on Oscar Blandi products, please visit http://oscarblandi.com/newproducts/products

By: Polly Singer

By George, I really did it, I did it, I did it!
Professor Henry Higgins, My Fair Lady

Jennifer, you did it! Thanks and congratulations to long time customer Jennifer Kies for submitting the winning entry in our Name the Hat Competition.

I know for a fact that there are more words in the English language than there are hats in Polly’s collection, however, sometimes it seems as if all the good words have been taken. Recently, after naming and writing descriptions of more than 30 new spring and summer hats I found myself with one hat left, an exciting design, a striking departure from the other hats in the collection and not the faintest idea of what this lovely new creation should be called. That’s how the hat became known, temporarily, at least, as Lady Jane Doe and I asked you readers for your suggestions.

There were a number of good entries, the one that rang the bells of our three judges was “Fair Lady Beaton ” I for one, love Jennifer’s thinking. “Fair Lady Beaton” references the scene in My Fair Lady in which Eliza Doolittle attends the races (ding!) at Ascot (ding!). In the scene, Miss Hepburn (ding!) wore a fantastic ensemble in black and white topped off by a large black and white hat (ding!) the costume designer for the film was Sir Cecil Beaton. I think everyone will agree that “Fair Lady Beaton” is an inspired choice. Well done Jennifer. Ms. Kies will receive a gift certificate in the amount of $150. toward a Polly Singer Couture hat.

We thank all of you who participated. We’d also like to thank our judges, Hat Lady Caroline Franscis, Designer Jane Lowery, and Michelle Snyder, staff member of Martha Stewart Living.

After our break in August, Polly will begin designing new hats, consequently, I’ll need to come up with more names. In the meantime, I take comfort in Professor Higgins’ observation: “Think what you’re dealing with. The majesty and grandeur of the English language, it’s the greatest possession we have. The noblest thoughts that ever flowed through the hearts of men are contained in its extraordinary, imaginative, and musical mixtures of sounds.”

Carrie: I wore a bird on my head
Miranda: Is that what that was? I thought it was a feather?
Carrie: It was a bird.

Everyone and his dog has weighed in on the movie Sex and the City so I won’t add to the reviews here. Let it suffice to say that fans of the HBO television series either loved or hated the movie. I fall somewhere in between. Anyway, my primary interest in the film, the same as my interest in the TV show, was seeing what the girls wore, and naturally, what they wore on their heads.

The movie was much about the outfits, a fashion show with snappy dialog. Wardrobe preoccupation declared itself early on when Big suggested that they choose a diamond engagement ring for Carrie. Her reply was that she’d rather have a fabulous closet. “You go, girl!,” I thought, “A diamond isn’t every girl’s best friend.” Two of my rural neighbors, Sex in the Boondocks, if you will, requested in lieu of diamonds, respectively, a bush hog and a run of 4 plank fencing. At the time of my engagement to a master woodworker, I negotiated a small emerald (My social conscience at the time forbade any truck with the South African diamond trade.) as well as a cherry frame and panel room for my library. As they say, whatever floats your boat.

In the show’s two and a half hour run time, Sarah Jessica Parker alone had 81 costume changes. Among the devices employed were a runway show, scenes from a Vogue fashion shoot and a vignette in which the character Carrie, while packing her wardrobe, modeled old favorite outfits. The last was a satisfying and sentimental review. Life, Love and What I Wore.

Aside from the very high profile Bird on the Head wedding veil, hats featured were generally low key. At a point mid-movie all four women arrive at a Carribbean resort decked out in fairly streamlined but chic hats, the most notable one, a lipstick red straw saucer hat worn by the Miranda character. Throughout most of the film, Bradshaw favored tailored, almost masculine head gear. At the resort she wore a classic man’s Panama. Later, in a street scene, she was charmingly gamine in a black fur or velvet fedora. Charlotte, true to the character’s classic, romantic style of dressing, accessorized her resort wear with a large, Simply Elegant style straw in vivid turquoise. Polly has recently had a request to design just such a hat for a client’s trip to Moracco. The hat worked up beautifully, look for it in next spring’s collection. Oh, in one scene, Miranda sported a tall pointy black hat but since the scene took place at Halloween, I think we can safely assume this was a costume piece, not a fashion trend.

Samantha gets credit for the most memorable hats. At the resort she wore a wonderful picture hat in a black and natural print. In a scene from her life on the West Coast she’s filmed in a magnificent enormous sewn straw hat of the sort Polly has recently added to her line. The actress Kim Cattrell does a masterful job of using the hat as a comic prop, hiding behind and peeking from beneath the brim to cruise an attractive male neighbor. This stage business brings to mind a time when ladies used fans as tools of seduction.

Back to the bird on the head. The remains of a brightly colored bird is hardly the final touch I would have added to a Vivian Westwood wedding gown, however, I have to admitt, it worked. The quote which begins this post in which Carrie comments, “I wore a bird on my head.” is an excerpt from a conversation the characters were having on the subject “The things we’ve done for men.” I have to wonder, is it something she did for a man? Further, this brings up the old question, “Do women dress for men or for other women?” My knee jerk response is that I dress for myself. That’s probably not strictly accurate, for if it were true, my wardrobe staples would be an old LSU tee shirt and Eiffle Tower print pajama bottoms. Maybe the answer to this question varies from woman to woman. I’m interested to hear your thoughts.

One more thing on the subject of the ill omened bird head piece, there’s a Chinese proverb that says something to the effect of, “The birds of trouble may fly over your head. The trick is to not let them nest in your hair.”

by Jan Masters Yon

Weddings have always been popular on television. Last month, Polly, attired as a wedding guest in a stunning dress by Bluegrass Brides was the guest on WLEX TV channel 18, a local noontime news show. The topic was hat fashions for weddings. Polly’s comments were illustrated by live models wearing ensembles from bridal shops Bluegrass Brides and Modiste.

This fantasy wedding party included our own Ann Kreke, as the bride, a Mother of the Bride, flower girl and two bridesmaids. Anne wore a wedding dress from Modiste which was trimmed in blue gray satin. The coordinating veil floated from a headpiece of silk hydrangea. Jane, as Mother of the Bride, modeled a pale taupe lace suit from Bluegrass Brides which was complemented by a medium brimmed ivory hat trimmed in pale pink roses.

The two bride’s maids presented contrasting looks. One young lady, Claire, wore her flowing magenta crepe dress with a classic large brimmed picture hat trimmed in silk organza flowers; perfect for an afternoon garden wedding.The other bridesmaid, Isabel, modeled a more sophisticated look, an iridescent red taffeta tea length dress and small black veiled and feathered head piece known as a fascinator. The look was slightly French Can-can and perfect for an evening wedding.

As always, the show was stolen by the Flower Girl, played by Polly’s own niece Emmaline. Emmaline wore a flame colored satin dress and a head piece featuring feathers, and a velvet flower fashioned by Hat Lady, Sue Dozier. Those of you who missed the show may tune in by visiting the press page of our website.

By: Jan Masters Yon

Everyone has a head, so everyone has a possibility to wear a hat. People feel better for wearing them.
Philip Treacy

The Royal Ascot Race Meet, Ladies Day in particular, is one of the high holy days of millinery design. Beautiful, luscious, sometimes daring hats repose on every head. In accordance with the Dress and Etiquette Code requirement for entrance into the royal enclosure, strapless dresses, halter tops, bare midriffs, spray-on tans and any display of underwear is strictly frowned upon, however hats for ladies and top hats for gentlemen are compulsory. Yet another reason to be an anglophile.

In my opinion, Ascot 2008 saw the British Royal Family better turned out than ever before. According to United Press International, bookmakers in England reported a high number of bets were placed predicting that Queen Elizabeth II would break with tradition and attend opening day sporting a fascinator, that is, a small lavishly trimmed hat worn at a jaunty angle.

However, the Queen arrived wearing a pastel blue Phillip Somerville squarely set, medium brimmed hat to accessorize her Steward Previn dress and coat. On Thursday, Ladies Day, Her Royal Highness was both elegant and chic in a black and ivory print dress/coat ensemble topped with an asymmetric brimmed hat in ivory with a spray of black silk leaves. All three pieces were designed by Rachel Trevor-Morgan.

The entrance of Queen Elizabeth may have left a raft of disappointed bettors in its wake but the younger members of the royal family overwhelmingly chose the fascinator as a race day favorite.

Zara Phillips, daughter of Princess Anne appeared in a gravity defying monochromatic saucer hat in cream colored straw trimmed with a brace of large cream colored roses.

HRH Princess Beatrice wore a smart, small white fascinator trimmed in black, her sister HRH Princess Eugenie sported a small blue cap heaped with blue silk roses and periwinkle blue cut coque feathers. Both hats were worn low on the forehead and off-center. Thursday, Ladies Day, both granddaughters of the Queen followed the trend of neutral colors and asymmetry with small cream colored hats worn at dramatic angles.

I’m pleased to tell you that All You Need is Love Hats and Veils was represented at Ascot - in the Royal Enclosure, no less. Recently, Polly had the enviable task of creating a hat for a young woman’s first visit to Ascot. The resulting design was, as you might guess, neutral in color, designed to be worn off kilter, trimmed with a cascade of stripped coque feathers tucked under a smartly angled brim. A prototype of the hat and Nicole Miller dress, courtesy of Lexington’s Bella Rose which inspired it is shown here modeled by Isabel Abbott Yon, Junior Member of the Lexington Ballet Company.

One needn’t attend The Royal Ascot Race Meet to learn from it. More pictures of racegoers can be seen by visiting the following links.

www.cbsnews.com

news.aol.com

www.wireimage.com

To recap, so to speak, millinery trend spotters, be alert to fascinators, monochromatic, neutral palettes and shallow crowned saucer hats trim both over and under the brim - all worn on the diagonal. Inspired by Ascot, Polly will be posting some new designs along these lines. I encourage you to watch for them on the website and, as always, will be interested to hear your opinions.

By Jan Masters Yon

Just a few minutes ago, I found out from a friend that Tasha Tudor passed yesterday. While I knew she must be getting up there, I had no idea that she was 93 years old. I always related to Tudor’s dedication to living life as she wanted to and making up her own rules. I’ve never felt like I belonged in this century either, so I felt a kinship with Tasha Tudor. She was an inspiration to us all.

I always loved Tasha Tudor’s art. Her gentle, whimsical drawings of animals always made us smile. My friends and I have read most every book about her. Of course, Victoria Magazine introduced me more to Tasha Tudor’s lifestyle. For those of you that don’t know, she lived in Vermont, but very simply. Tasha lived as it would have been in the 1830’s, her favorite time period.

Tasha Tudor, was one of America’s best-known and beloved illustrators. Her first little story, Pumpkin Moonshine, was published in 1938. Subsequently she illustrated nearly one hundred books, the most recent being The Corgiville Christmas, released in 2003. She received many awards and honors, including Caldecott Honors for Mother Goose and 1 is One. She also created thousand of Christmas cards, Advent calendars, valentines, posters, and other works.

Her home, though only 30 years old, felt as though it was built in the 1830’s, her favorite time period. Seth Tudor, one of Tasha’s four children, built her home using hand tools when Tasha moved to Vermont in the 1970’s. Tasha Tudor lived among period antiques, using them in her daily life. She was quite adept at ‘Heirloom Crafts’, though she detested the term, including candle dipping, weaving, soap making, doll making and knitting. She lived without running water until her youngest child was five years old.

For more information on Tasha Tudor, please visit http://www.tashatudorandfamily.com/who-is-tasha-tudor.html

By: Polly Singer