The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
Gone is the fascinator from the ladies’ day scene and as the Galway races approaches, Ennis-based milliner and winner of Kerry Fashion Weekend Irish Accessory Designer of the Year 2013 says this year is all about the ‘hatinator’.
Sinéad Madden turned her creativity as an interior designer into millinery last year after the property bubble burst and has been yielding rewards ever since. In her first year out, she was a finalist at KFW in 2012 and went on to scoop the accessory designer of the year in the same event earlier this year.
Speaking to The Clare Champion, she explains what will be on trend during race week and looks forward to some of her own pieces being showcased on the day.
With the new rules introduced at Ascot recently Sinéad said the fascinator has become a thing of the past and the hatinator has now arrived on the scene.
Falling somewhere in between a full hat and a fascinator, the hatinator steers away from the traditional comb or clip with feathers in favour of a large headpiece mounted typically on a small hat. “Definitely, the trend this year for headwear is big. This is as a direct result of new Royal Ascot rules when they banned fascinators. Bigger brimmed headpieces are on trend. Monochrome is also huge this year and has won on ladies’ days this year,” Sinéad said.
While monochrome is in high demand, Sinéad said ladies still love their colour pops and she also uses plenty of summer colours in her pieces. She said generally, women will seek to match their hatinator with their outfit and as there is no hard and fast rules in millinery colour gives her plenty of creative licence.
Sinéad also advises ladies that it is important to dress to not only the shape of their face but also appropriate to their height.
“Make sure that the shape is right for your face and for your height. If you are small, go in proportion to your height and don’t go for a big hat as it will only make you look smaller,” she said.
Sinéad will be judging The Clayton Hotel Galway’s Best Hat competition during Galway Race Week.
