Congratulations Carol Kennelly Millinery

Congratulations to the wonderfully talented Carol Kennelly, who is a finalist the much esteemed award of 'Who wants to be a milliner?', judged by the amazing legend himself, 'Philip Treacy'.

The final piece was a beautiful beaded red band with red coque feathers.  Amazbomb!

We love it, as much as we love all of your amazing work Carol.  Brilliant!

Click Here for Carol Kennelly Millinery

www.racingfashion.com.au

Talenthouse

How amazing that we have the opportunity to share and love our favourite craft, millinery.  There are so many beautiful hats and too few hours in the day to look at all of the fantastic hats.  Let us be totally constructive in saying some our to our taste and others are not.
This is what the form of art is all about, whether it is good or not so good, it is evoking emotion.  I would rather have a piece that really gives me a raw energy being it good or not good, that is what art is all about.
When giving reason for art, remember it is easier to dismiss something and say you don't like it and go with the sheep and say I don't like it for this, this and this.
What if far more challenging is to stand in a room full of people disliking something and being able to come up with reasons to like or love it with justification.
This year I have told many of my friends that have asked me to vote, to please not ask me.  I support them in every way possible and I think it is amazing that we can see all these beautiful hats, but simply I love all of your work because I can see so many different points of view.  There are so many different mediums being used and the construction is sheer brilliance in some cases.
If I was to vote for one, I would vote for all, so really my vote would be null and void.
I do apologise, but when last year there was another competition was held, I had many milliners call me in some distress that 100s and in some cases 1000s of their images had been viewed with only maybe 20 likes.  This did make some hat makers distraught and feeling un inspired.  This is the last thing that I want to encourage.  The world of fashion and art is the toughest competition in the world I believe and you wear your heart on your sleeve.  I think the talent house competition is wonderful to showcase, but you have to have thick skin.
I don't care how tough you say you are, you would be surprised at who made the phone calls to me last year and I will never let you know as I hold my word close to my heart.
I wish everyone in this competition good luck and if you have not had a breeze through the competition, please do yourself a favour and have a look.  There are some amazing hats and such different points of view.

To view all of talent house, click here and proceed to vote.

News from "The Hat Factor", via Grazia

Milliner to the stars, Philip Treacy, is currently chez Grazia Towers judging some of the hopefuls in the Grazia Hat Factor, and just as the first entrants were making their way through the doors, we caught up with top milliner Philip Treacy to fin out what he’s looking for while he judges our brand new competition.

‘Talent!’ He says ‘really, and that’s about originality, enthusiasm, technique, design ability, it doesn’t have to be rocket science – [but it’s] that element of something special, really’.

And how does that fit in with all the other excitement this year; notably the 2012 festival, which the winning Hat Factor design will be involved in, in a top secret way... 'Well' he says, 'the project itself is part of the celebration, but I don’t think we’re looking for an Olympic hat, necessarily’.

And as for that OTHER big event this year, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, Philip was coyly silent about any role he might play, though he did indicate he’d have SOME involvement, saying that ‘royalty wears hats! Hats are a part of royal.... protocol – they are a part of those dressing up moments, and royalty has more of them.

‘Hats have been kept alive by the royal family, and by her majesty the Queen – because she has kept hats alive in the imagination of people all over the world- they associate hats with her, and with Englishness.’

And in that sense, it’s good to have someone like, Kate Middleton regularly wearing hats with pride, right? ‘Yes, because she is the New Girl… Who everyone wants to look like!’

It’s here! The day of the hotly anticipated Grazia Hat Factor has finally arrived, and we are very, very excited. Almost as excited, in fact, as some of the eager milliners who have been queuing outside Grazia HQ since the almost unfeasibly early hour of 4am. Phewf!

Looking surprisingly fresh-faced, the hopeful hat makers are sussing out the competition, readying their pitches and prepping themselves for their sixty seconds in front of our panel, which includes Grazia editor-in-chief Jane Bruton, Grazia style director Paula Reed, and two of Britain’s most respected milliners, Stephen Jones and Philip Treacy.

The first hopefuls have just started making their way up to the judges room, and we'll be bring you updates from both the judges and the entrants as the day progresses. Good luck everyone!

The above story is from Grazia UK and we are loving every minute of it as we are sure you are going to as well.  Here is the link and I will be keeping you posted, but would this not be totally fabulous to have in Australia so all of our marvelous milliners could show off their craft?  Click Here for Grazia UK

Danica Erard Millinery

Yesterday showed one of the most coveted titles being the Mornington Cup Fashions on the Field 2012.  This title was won in the 18 - 40 ladies category by Melissa Buchanan.  Melissa was wearing a beautiful Danica Erard Hat that was right on trend on a boiling hot day.  The wide brim with beautiful silk roses was a perfect summer touch and really was fashion forward with this outfit.  When Melissa graced us with her presence on stage, I think most of us wanted to be 'That Girl'.  Melissa was so graceful and confident in her stride that she took everyone's breath away.  Congratulations Melissa, and Danica Erard Millinery, you are today's Milliner of the Day.