Driving Outfit (Hat?) Opinions Please!

[vlayne]

I am not a hat person. But I am considering wearing a hat in my (evening) driving championship at Madison next month, mainly because I show in a saddle class 6 classes prior and will have hat hair. :censored: I could, obviously, show in my suit, or try to do something with my hair (maybe a super nice bun and some sparkly pins?) but I'm considering a hat.

So, here is the outfit (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370141993500).

I cut off the skirt and will be wearing the top and jacket with a pair of black dress slacks. The skirt is too narrow and doesn't fit me, plus it has a big slit up the side. Not appropriate for pleasure driving. :D

And here is the hat (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&item=110372704469). If I add some dark red feathers and lace, I think it would look pretty nice.

What do you think, ladies?

[janders]

I'm not a hat person, either, but that is a nice hat. It would tie in nicely with the black and red. Hate hat hair!

[Thunderstruck]

I'd go with the hat. If you are anything like me it won't just be your hair that has "hat head"...your forehead with be "makeupless" and redder than the rest of your face unless you think you'll have time to fix it!

[mskyar]

Just a question...do you have time to change both you and the horse with only six classes in between????? Or is the riding class on a different horse? If that's the case and your horse is ready to hook, go with the hat. If the same horse I don't think there is enough time to re-dress you both, in which case I would suggest just wearing your suit and derby..JMO

[vlayne]

I will have someone else to redress my horse. Otherwise you're right, no way I could do it alone!

[Anke]

Don't add anything else to the hat...... Just find a nice brooch in the same color as the dress and attach it to the center of the fluff on the hat. Also, get some double sided tape as hat like these will catch wind and it's just another 'concern' while driving. I would have gotten a less fluffy type hat, more like a plain black pillbox with a voile, accented by a nice hatpin.
JMO

[vlayne]

Good ideas Anke, thanks!

I was going to remove some of the stuff on the hat and replace with red, but I'll start looking for a brooch or something. That would be much easier!

[Anke]

I have a large art deco silver brooch with a large square red stone in the middle. Will be more than happy to pop it in the mail to you so you can see if that would work.

[Thunderstruck]

Many people do just show in the suit if there isn't alot of time. Although most people don't use them any more hat pins are wonderful things. I have a bunch that my Grandmother used to use and I always pin my driving hat to my hair in two places and I've never had it come off even outside in very windy conditions. I did once have it flip back off my head, but it was still attached to my head so it didn't get trampled!

I agree with Anke about the brooch or something small to tie the color in to your dress. I always think it looks silly when people have alot of netting or feathers on a huge hat for "just" a pleasure driving class unless it's at Louisville or something. They have their place in carriage driving, but I prefer a less subdued look for Pleasure Driving. JMHO though!

[vlayne]

I do have some nice long hat pins so I'm not too concerned about losing the hat. Plus I think it's going to be nice and snug - I have a big head. :)

I'm going to head to the mall and see if I can find some kind of brooch that matches the dress. If I don't find one Anke, I'd be happy to borrow yours - thank you! I also need to find an interesting wide pink headband to go with my other outfit, so I'll be shopping! :hang:

[attafox]

I second Anke's idea regarding a smaller cloche type hat. The hat in the photo is really a daytime hat.

[vlayne]

I have yet to find a pillbox or smaller hat that I like. The ONE I found was white, and too small. I'll keep looking but since my budget is small, and the window is narrowing, this hat will most likely have to do.

[WishMeLuckJSH]

Personally, I like seeing the faces of the drivers in Pleasure Driving.... a friend of mine drives a gorgeous CP horse, and she's so pretty that I like it when she leaves the hat off during her shows -- just FWIW. When she wears her hat it covers her up too much!

I understand your dilemma about riding and then having "hat hair" though...

[Renae]

I would not wear that hat with that outfit in an indoor arena. I would possibly wear a small felt hat of some sort, but not a wide brimmed hat.

I would just do my bun neatly. I have done this when I was showing a halter horse in one class and a riding horse shortly after at Arab show and in pics my hair looked just fine.

[vlayne]

I would prefer NOT to wear a hat. I'm going to have to experiment with my hat hair and see if it's stylable in a short time into SOMETHING decent looking. I doubt it, tho. :)

[cparker912]

I prefer to see CP and SP drivers in hat and gloves..guess thats a bit old fashion of me! But with the time crunch I would really just do the suit/derby...Good Luck!

[Anke]

I prefer to see CP and SP drivers in hat and gloves..guess thats a bit old fashion of me! But with the time crunch I would really just do the suit/derby...Good Luck!

I absolutely agree. I believe it to be not proper for a lady to drive without hat and gloves. If you are able to slick your hair back, nice size bun, try to find a 50's-60's 'skullcap'..... You could find the foundation for a cap like that at Hobby Lobby (or similar store) in the bridal section. Cover it with a beautiful silk, do some embellishments and just put it on like a hatband. Might also work for you pink dilemma......:blush:

[kmmed1]

Judy McNeish has found some vintage hats in antique stores to wear whem driving Invincible Summer in wagon classes, where hats are required. You might want to check your local antique store for something suitable.

[attafox]

Consignment stores are fabulous as well.

[vlayne]

How about this one (http://cgi.ebay.com/LARGE-BLACK-WOVEN-PILLBOX-HAT-W-FRONT-VEIL-BACK-BOW_W0QQitemZ130298834507QQcmdZViewItemQQptZVintag e_Men_s_Women_s_Accessories?hash=item130298834507&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72:1546|66:4|65:12|39:1|240:1318|301:0|2 93:1|294:200)? I like the asymmetrical look... easy enough to add a brooch or something red.

What would I do with the veil part? Trim it a bit shorter?

I just realized I absolutely cannot go without a hat... I wear clip-on hair extensions to make my bun for riding, and the clips are visible and it's quite ugly without a hat. So I either show in my suit, or wear a hat with my dress.

I should have plenty of time to change between my classes - six classes is probably close to an hour.

[cparker912]

I like all the ones by Kentuckyderbyhat people on ebay...i cant judge hats unless I see them on a person..peoples heads are so different!!.....just be careful it doesn't look like a rooster hit the side of your head!!

[Paddy's Girl]

Oh, I like that one!!!! most hats with tule netting you can either wear down or it folds back up and over.

I have several vintage hats and would add that one in a heartbeat! (Don't worry I won't!):D

[janders]

I personally like that one a lot better than the other, but I'm not up on what you 'should' wear. I would shorten the veil.

[Anke]

Yep, thats it! :yes:

[vlayne]

OK I shall bid on it! I like it, too. I'll keep the other one maybe for a daytime class, although I rarely wear black during the day.

[vlayne]

Thank you to everyone for your input! I ended up with a hat I loved (after I made a few changes to it). It had this giant ugly bow in the center of the netting on the brim, which I removed and replaced with three buttons covered with some leftover fabric from my outfit. I took some of the beads off the dress top and sewed them into the netting and along the edges of the buttons. You can't really see it from the photo, but it looked so nice. I felt so proper! :)

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_0aRujH73UKY/SjL-R__MvJI/AAAAAAAAAVo/YI_iJKeAtfM/s512/Madison09DrivingChamp.jpg

So thanks again for the feedback and I'm glad I went with some of the suggestions offered. It turned out great!

[Happy Dogue]

The first thing I'd look at is...do women at this show or at this level of a show typically wear hats? If not you may not want to be the only one out there with a hat.

The hat you picked is typical of what they were showing AQHA/APHA pleasure driving. The bigger the better. But, is a straw hat formal enought for the ocasion? There are web sites such as Essence hat.com
http://www.essencehat.com/ProductsG.aspx?txtCatID=7&DepID=1

that sell some bling bling hats at reasonable costs.

Just some thoughts,

Joan in the north woods

[vlayne]

Please read my post directly above yours. :D

[Anke]

The first thing I'd look at is...do women at this show or at this level of a show typically wear hats? If not you may not want to be the only one out there with a hat.

The hat you picked is typical of what they were showing AQHA/APHA pleasure driving. The bigger the better. But, is a straw hat formal enought for the ocasion? There are web sites such as Essence hat.com
http://www.essencehat.com/ProductsG.aspx?txtCatID=7&DepID=1

that sell some bling bling hats at reasonable costs.

Just some thoughts,

Joan in the north woods

I don't care what other drivers wear, I WILL wear a hat! It's tradition, our sport is steeped in tradition...... The hats on that website are, IMO, to wide brimmed. Too much fluff, is too much fluff and I have seen plenty of expensive hats come flying off because the wind got under them. Hats like that are great for tea parties, Ascot and the Kentucky Derby. Behind a horse, you better see where you are going and having to keep thinking on how to keep your hat on.... :D
Tiffani, I love the look in the picture. Very nicely put together! Glad you went with that hat.

[SmartAlex]

I just noticed the photo for the first time today. Very elegant! And Carson looks outstanding.