Posts Tagged ‘polly singer couture hats and veils’

Adrianna Papell

Many of my clients have been long-time Derby attendees. Over the years, they have tried different tricks. The latest seems to be picking a solid dress and then making the hat the focal piece. When you do that, it’s easy to work all sorts of colors into the hat. I’ve chosen some dresses that would work with most of our hats.

Calvin Klein at Nordstrom's

A number are picking a solid navy, black or cream dress. Prints are great fun and I love them. However it can be difficult to incorporate 3-4 colors from a printed dress into a hat. It can be done and I do it all the time. The only problem is that things get incredibly busy between now and May 1st, making sourcing different colors harder.

Eliza J Ruffle Neck from Nordstrom

If you are wearing a solid dress, the hat can incorporate all sorts of cool colors and features. With a solid dress, the hat becomes the focal point.

Taylor Dresses Ruffle Jacquard Sheath from Nordstrom

Lots of prints that I see this year have green and purple in them. Overall I am seeing more people wanting color (and bright ones) in their hat choices and outfits. I think everyone has been through a long winter and being visual people, we want bright colors and lots of it.

All of the dresses pictured above are available from shop.nordstrom.com. For those of you who like to shop at all hours and/or don’t like dealing with shopping in person, this is a good site to choose from.

Can a hat help a horse? In this instance, yes. I am partnering with the Kentucky Equine Humane Center in an exciting new project where $30.00 from hat purchases will go to the Kentucky Equine Humane Center’s horses.

When I started researching the Kentucky Equine Humane Center, I got very excited. This group has placed over 500 horses in new homes in it’s first 3 years. Not only that, but they are an all breed rescue organization, which I loved. Located in Jessamine County, right down the road from my office, they take in all horses, not turning any Kentucky horse in need away. In addition, horse owners can surrender their horses directly to KYEHC at the tracks, eliminating horses from ending up in dire circumstances, such as being sold for slaughter. Unfortunately this does happen.

All horses are examined and vetted. Horses deemed adoptable are then put up for adoption. As many of you know, horse abandonment is at all time due to the economy. People can simply not afford to feed their horses or pay for vet care. To keep a horse is an expensive proposition, especially with hay and feed prices soaring. As an animal lover and volunteer for various humane societies, seeing this depresssed me. As only one person, I felt there was not much I could do, but I had to do something.

Prominent in Pink, Simply Demure and Azure were the hats selected for this project. I selected hats that were popular styles and wearable as well. I’m happy to report sales have begun and we’ve already started raising money for KYEHC.

To donate directly to the Kentucky Equine Humane Center, please visit their Donation Page.

Thinking about adopting a horse? Visit their Adoptions Page

Why not turn your Kentucky Derby Party into a fundraiser for homeless horses? If each person donates $10.00 at your party and you have 20 people, that’s an easy $200.00 that was raised in easy and fun manner.

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).

I hate change. Really, I do. Running a business, household, doing volunteer work, being a daughter, daughter-in-law, friend, parent, etc. leaves me with very little time to hunt for new make-ups and update my look.

A few weeks ago, I was stuck in the Atlanta Airport with 4 hours to kill. I happened by the Duty Free Shop and visited the MAC counter. I asked the sales consultant to pick out a lipstick for me. She picked MAC Slimshine in Missy. When she first put it on me, I hated it. I felt it looked too orange. However, I have been to make-up counters before and they have suggested other colors that I didn’t take. You see, I was in the dreaded “lipstick rut”.

Missy Sample

The consultant then mentioned that the MAC Lipcolor Missy was “more youthful” and indeed, it was. So, for $14.00 I was able to purchase a bit of youth. I have felt brighter and happier wearing the new color. The Slimshine is long wearing and moisturizing as well.

This is an inexpensive way to update your look without spending a lot of money. Having a make-up consultant help you is key. I have pale skin and red hair, so the make-up that works on me would not work on most people.

By: Polly Singer

Wishing you and yours a prosperous, happy and utterly fantastic 2010!

Warm Wishes,
Polly Singer

Wishing you and yours a magical Christmas.

Love,

Polly Singer

Polly & Caroline at tea

One of my favorite past times is getting together with friends for tea. I don’t know why, but tea is such a calming experience. As we mentioned, how could something rife with caffeine be so calming? It has to do with the people.

The Ladies Historical Tea Society

I have been a member of the Ladies Historical Tea Society for over two years. Rebecca Chamberlain, the director, never fails to organize delectable teas and treats. Many of our teas are based on Victorian and Edwardian time periods.

Rebecca Chamberlain - Director of the Ladies Historical Tea Society

Our latest event was our Christmas Tea and Tea Cup Exchange. This is always such fun, shopping for the perfect cup. My gift choice was a Royal Albert Green, White and Gold cup. Natalie ended up getting my tea cup.

Polly's Gift Choice

I received a lovely Taylor and Kent Elizabethan Rose tea cup (pictured below), which I love. Tea tastes better when served in china tea cups. I’m happy to say that I adored using my tea cup.

The food was wonderful. We had an abundance of lovely tarts, scones, cakes, tea sandwiches, cookies, tea breads, coconut cookies and more. Natalie made a wonderful Victorian Sponge Cake.

Polly pretending to be Martha Stewart!

There were 7 of us present. It was such a lovely day. I would recommend a group of friends doing the tea cup exchange. It might be a nice event around Valentine’s Day.

For more information, please visit ladieshistorictea.blogspot.com

By: Polly Singer

FASHION TOPS ITSELF AT THE MELBOURNE CUP

Zara Phillips

The Queen’s granddaughter Zara Phillips went to the Melbourne Cup in a black feathered design by milliner Philip Treacy. Zara Phillips is an accomplished rider as well. Also making headlines was singer-celebrity Olivia Newton-John.

Olivia Newton John

Olivia Newton-John raised the style bar at the Melbourne Cup, turning heads in a tall black hat trimmed with netting and feathers.

Sarah Kelly

Sarah Kelly models the outfit that won the Melbourne Cup’s Fashions on the Field style competition

Racegoers take part in the Fashions on the Field event to find the best dressed ladies…

The Fashions on the Field competition is to find the best-dressed race attendee.

Photos courtesy of www.hatlife.com
© 2009

By: Polly Singer