2024 Racing Season Recap

Custom “Le Profil” hattinator for a Derby Party

Horse racing season (also known as my favorite time of year) is moving ahead at full speed! I absolutely love to see what everyone is wearing, assist in narrowing down accessory options and create custom hats that finish off the look. Seeing faces light up when we find the perfect hat, is the best.

I just returned from Derby Trunk Shows in Louisville and Dallas and while those new pieces are in production, I thought it would be fun to revisit some of my favorite custom pieces from last year’s racing season.

My slots for custom Derby hats are filled for this year but I have lots of pieces in stock that can still be customized to match your Derby look and space available for custom creations for the Preakness, Belmont Stakes and Royal Ascot. If you are still looking for the perfect piece to top off your race look or another summer event, let’s setup a time to chat either in person or via Zoom.

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Outfit combinations above from the top, L to R:

Row 1: Le Profil hattinator with Camilla dress, Flirter fascinator with Leo Lin dress, Le Melon hat with Zimmerman dress

Row 2: Sylvie hat with feathers and Carolina Herrera dress, Le Profil hattinator with Dolce & Gabbana shoe, Custom fascinator with Theory dress

Row 3: L’houpette fascinator with Chanel dress, Vivian fascinator with Zimmerman dress, La Reine fascinator with Dolce & Gabbana dress

Row 4: Canotier hat with Giambattista Valli dress, Le Melon with Alice + Olivia suit, Custom fascinator with Sandro dress

Row 5: Custom fascinator with Zara dress, Petite Mademoiselle hat with Huishan Zhang dress, Le Profil hattinator with Monique Lhuillier dress

Row 6: Gigi fascinator with Cara Cara dress, Le Profil hattinator with Dolce & Gabbana dress, Caprice fascinator with Zimmerman dress,

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Of course the best part of all this are the day of texts and emails from the races themselves! Seeing everyone in their full looks, having fun with friends and family makes me so happy. Truly, you all look so fabulous and I am so grateful you trust me create these hats and fascinators for you.

Kentucky Derby 2017

Hands down, the Kentucky Derby is the busiest time of year here at JCM but also the most exciting! I love making custom pieces and challenging myself to create hats that enhance clients fashion choices while staying true to my design esthetic.

I thought it could be fun to share some pictures and behind the scenes from the lead up to Derby Day or as I like to think of it, the kick off the American Horse Racing Season (it's a long road to Breeder's Cup in November)! 

First we started out doing a fun collaboration with Lou What Wear, a fashion blog based in Louisville. I sent Danielle some hats and she mixed them with her fashion sensibilities to create a series of posts that really enhanced the hats and generated some beautiful photos which you can see below. She also did a nice interview with me that you can read here. 

Next up I did another collaboration with San Antonio Fashion Blogger and Stylist Kimberly Frick. I have followed Kimberly on social media for a while and inspired by her bright and playful style, I created a special, limited edition collection. We were both excited by the pieces and decided to hold an Instagram contest where we gave away a fascinator for Derby! See Kimberly modeling her hat as well as out Instagram winner, Ashley Grace Johnson of  Texas Fashion Spot in her fascinator on Derby Day below!

The best part of the madness is always seeing clients dressed and ready to go on Derby Day! Wether it is a Derby Party or direct from the track for the Kentucky Oaks or the Kentucky Derby the pictures never disappoint and I love seeing the complete outfits! A huge thank you to everyone who sent me pictures, they really do make me smile!

This year I spent Derby Day at the Ojai Valley Inn and Spa where I had the pleasure of assisting women decorate hats for a Kentucky Derby themed party. It was a really fun event that was beautifully decorated with all best "Run for the Roses" details!   

Time to start thinking about next year...