Posts Tagged ‘Kentucky derby hats’

The most exciting 2 minutes in sports brings with it the most exciting and trying 2 months in millinery. I’m happy to say, thanks to you all, we not only survived the Derby season but profited in so many ways.

This year we worked with charming people and beautiful dresses. Those of you who appreciate elegant head wear tend to be interesting; even so, this year brought a bumper crop of fascinating customers and enlightening design challenges.

As ever, there were good stories. We helped the sweetest of husbands who surprised his wife with an entire Derby Day ensemble. We had a last minute consultation with the owner of a Derby contender. An avowed Barn Girl, she disliked hats but needed a little something to wear in the winners circle — you know, just in case… Our horsewoman left looking divine with a hat she loved. Three sisters who were coming back to Lexington after having been gone since childhood made their walk down memory lane in Singer originals. Our favorite governor’s wife did the green thing, both in her choice of colors and her thrifty decision to re-trim a hat from an earlier Derby. So many stories, so much fun.

“I wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed my “Portrait of a Lady” hat at the Oaks! My husband and I met another very nice couple thanks to your hat styling…at the last race of the day, we decided to go down to the rail and there I saw a woman with a hat that looked like mine! I had to ask if it was a Polly Singer and she said YES!”

The aesthetic challenges were many. As you all know, we design by phone, by email, even by text message. We rely on photos, paint chips and the spoken word and always call heavily on imagination. In the hat studio it’s not unusual to hear peculiar dialogue as we try to pin down a color,

“Now when you say celery, do you mean the leaves, or more toward the stalk…?) or “A yellow, slightly warmer than a taxicab but no where near school bus…” Peach-ish tipping toward coral-ish, right?”

Not only do these trials keep the eye and vocabulary sharp, they often result in combination of colors and textures that a designer would never have come up with alone. The process of meeting very specific design criteria, as usual, has influenced new designs on our site. You will see new designs and colors, thanks in part to feedback from our clients.

Stay tuned for more photos on Friday.

Well, today is a certified snow day at my house. Lexington, Kentucky is in the midst of a huge blizzard. My husband’s court was cancelled, after his working all weekend. So we have a quiet day at home together. I have hats to drop off, but getting out is impossible today. I was so behind after having been out with a stomach virus last week that I went in and worked on Sunday.

Sometimes Mother Nature makes us take a break and rest up. It’s starting to get very busy already.

Night and day, you are the one
Only you beneath the moon or under the sun
Whether near to me, or far
Its no matter darling where you are
I think of you.
Cole Porter

How often do we hear “I just can’t make up my mind!” ? Often enough. Once, a customer who just couldn’t choose between two hats, exclaimed in frustration “I wish I had two heads.” This may have been the point at which Polly’s new line, Night & Day had its inception.

Night & Day hats are in effect, two hats in one. A Night & Day is a classic wide brimmed hat fashioned in the finest parisisal straw — hand blocked in one of our three most popular styles. The trim, which appears to be slightly more lavish than usual, is actually a little fascinator which is detachable and furnished with combs and clips so it can be worn separately as a cocktail hat or for occasions when something a little edgier or more fun is in order.

There are a total of 11 hats in the line. So have your cake and eat it too!

To see the entire line, enter “Night & Day” in the key word search field on our Shop on Line page.

These hats are exclusive to Polly Singer, LLC and any duplications of these designs are strictly prohibited.

Even though it is freezing outside and we have snow on the ground, spring is around the corner. I’ve been feverishly designing for spring.

I think the hot colors for spring are going to be purples, hot pinks, vibrant greens and orangey reds. Blues will be very strong too. Watching the Golden Globes a few weeks ago, we saw celebrities wearing lots of color such as purples, vibrant pinks, etc. Those not wearing color, wore shimmery ivories and champagnes.

Here are some ponderings on the different colors and their qualities:

Pink – cheerful and friendly, it conveys the spirit of the heart. It may call to mind happy, romantic memories. It is fresh and invigorating.

Blue – soothing, can bring harmony and balance. Can evoke memories is wonderful dreams, crystal skies or the ocean.

Green – symbolizes freshness and renewal. Signifies life, energy and hope (think plants blooming the ins spring).

Yellow – the color of sunshine, used to convey warmth and happiness. Inspires joy by suggesting the sunny sound of laughter. Simulates energy in others by reminding them of spring or the dawn of a new day.

Of course,neutral hat colors are always very popular. Black, ivory and white go with everything. When in doubt, purchase a neutral because you can get great mileage out. In addition, you can dress it up by changing the colors of your accessories (bag, shoes and hat).

It’s funny, but people always assume that our business shuts down after the Kentucky Derby. Yes, it is quieter. However, I stay busy designing hats for the summer races as well as weddings and charity events all year long. Believe it or not, clients buy Kentucky Derby hats all year round!

I am working on two hats for the Belmont currently. One is for a client who attends annually. The other hat is for TVG Anchor Christina Olivares. Each year, I see more hats being worn to the Belmont. The Belmont is the last leg of the Triple Crown and this year’s race promises to be a great match-up. Will Rachel Alexandra win like she did in the Preakness? Or will the longer race benefit Mind That Bird, that come from behind horse who roars down the stretch like a locomotive? I can’t wait to watch.

The Belmont Stakes will take place on June 6th at 6:30 p.m.

BY: Polly Singer

Well, believe it or not, Jan and I survived the Kentucky Derby. We had many obstacles, but somehow, we made it. Everything that could go wrong did, but all ended up fine in the end. You’ll notice that in the photo above, we are dressed alike. We didn’t intend it that way, as you will read farther below.

As anyone watching the Derby knows, the race was a huge upset.
Mind That Bird shocked us all by winning. There was a huge thrill seeing the horses round that final turn and Mind That Bird go along the inside rail to surprise everyone. I literally got chills on that final turn. To see a horse that was 50-1, was purchased for $9,500 and driven up from New Mexico in a trailer, win the biggest race in America was amazing.

Watching the race later on tape, almost more touching than the win was Jockey Calvin Borel’s raw emotion and tears upon wishing his parents could have been alive to see what he’s accomplished. Hollywood couldn’t have written a better ending.

I will do a more in-depth Derby wrap up later. A few quick things:

1. The day was much colder than we had anticipated. Thank goodness Jan had brought a rain coat with her. I started the day in the sundress and cardigan pictured below, but had to borrow Jan’s coat to finish the day.

2. We saw many of our hats out and about. The best part was meeting clients who we had only emailed with and talked with over the phone.

3. Our biggest compliment of the day came from none other than Aretha Franklin. A client wearing one of our custom designs was approached by Ms. Franklin and complimented on her hat. Here is the hat pictured below in the center.

Now, time to catch up on my rest!

By: Polly Singer

WJBC Derby Hat Interview with Beth Whisman

Fox 41 Churchill Downs Interview with Polly Singer