Millinery For The Masses

For the tenth year in a row designer Lynn Holyoak has brought her collection of hats branded Hattitude to the race goers of Dubai. Her love of millinery and the city makes her fly all the way from Brisbane, Australia every year.

“My association with the race started in its second year, 1997, when I was chosen as the official milliner for the event. The association lasted for four years before we parted ways and I launched Hattitude.”

My primary customers are mothers with kids who want to look good but who have to consider other expenses. Lynn Holyoak Milliner

It is an exclusive collection of 300 hats targeted at a niche market.

“With my price range I am targeting just above the bottom end market. My primary customers are mothers with kids who want to look good, but who have to consider other expenses too.

“(Going to a race) is an enormous expense so I target what I’d be prepared to pay. I want to bring millinery to the masses.”

Formally trained in the art, she readily dispenses advice on current trends.

“The latest thing is fascinators, the little feathery things that you slide into your hair. They are almost taking over hats in popularity. The trend in hats, however, is the use of a material called sinnamay, which comes from the trunk of the banana tree. It’s a natural fibre and takes colour beautifully. About 90 per cent of the hats sold in Dubai are made of this material.

“Feathers are also the biggest complement of the racing hat. They have a soft and sexy look about them and men love them on their wives and girlfriends. As for the colour, black is always going to be the colour of choice. It is classic and easy to accessorise.”

There is a golden rule about hats that must not be broken. Three things must always match - the hat, the shoes and the bag.

“The other important rule in millinery is height. Regardless of your body shape, if you are under 5ft 5in height you never wear a brim wider than three inches. It overwhelms the woman’s height and looks completely out of proportion. Only if you are taller can you wear a wider brim.”

The collection is on sale at Shakespeare & Co Café at Park and Shop, Al Wasl Road. It has a price range of Dh300 to Dh450 apiece, while fascinators are priced at Dh150 each. The hats bought there can be altered in size and trimmed at no extra cost.

Choosing A Hat

• Get the right brim - not everyone can carry off a wide brim
• Choose the colour that matches your skin tone
• Your hat must complement the colour of your outfit
• Cardinal rule: Your hat must match your shoes and bag

International Horse Fair

Arabian horse auction, equine art display, show jumping and a live demonstration of saddle making by the Royal Cavalry of Oman will be the highlights of the third Dubai International Horse Fair (DIHF) at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre between April 1-7. Entry is free.