Our client wearing her custom “Le Profile” hattinator featured in Garden & Gun’s, “Dazzling Hats and More at Churchill Downs”, May 8, 2023 - Photographed by Nerissa Sparkman
The couple of months leading up to the Kentucky Derby is the busiest and most fun time of the year!
For me, Derby Season starts in early January when production begins on new designs and all the ideas I have had percolating in my head start to come to life. I spend time in the fall sourcing new materials and commissioning new hat blocks so I can get to work right after the holidays.
Once the samples are finished, usually around mid-March, I open the studio for custom appointments and begin traveling around the country to do Trunk Shows.
I always encourage clients to bring in the outfit(s) they plan to wear so I can help them choose the perfect style hat, match the colors and tailor the trimmings to their outfit.
The chaos is real and it is always a mad dash to get all of the hats made and shipped in time but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I love working one on one with clients to create their perfect, custom hat and it’s so fun to receive pictures of clients in their finished “looks” at the track on Derby day and in the weeks following.
Connecting with so many amazing women and getting to be a small part of the fun and joyous occasions in their lives is the best part of what I do!
A few of our favorite custom hat and dress pairings, from left to right: pink and red “Le Profil” hattinator with Lela Rose dress, yellow satin “Dahlia” headband with Simkhai dress, pink and white “Canotier” hat with Lela Rose dress, purple “Contraire” saucer with floral Zimmerman dress, aqua, red and white “Le Profile” hattinator with Edeline Lee outfit, fuchsia and white “Éclat de la Lune” fascinator with Express shoe, “Garden Party Sylvie” hat wit floral Zimmerman dress, natural and red “Le Profile” hattinator with Zhivago dress.
The best part of the whole process is seeing everyone all dressed up and enjoying their day at the track!
