Designer Patricia Zanger offers stylish tips for best hat at the Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby is right around the corner and tradition dictates every lady and/or gentleman must have a very fashionable hat. So yes, it’s time to consider what to wear out to the Portland Meadows that is if you aren't traveling to Louisville to enjoy a day at the horse races.
Bonnet Boutique owner and hat designer Patricia Zanger offered in this exclusive interview some insider stylish and fashionable tips about how to get the best hat while either winning or losing on this season’s top thoroughbreds. Let’s get started.
What's the most important style tips or fashion considerations to undertake when purchasing a hat at Bonnet for any occasion? Why are those important?
I always recommend choosing a hat that you feel confident and stylish in, no matter the occasion. At any given time there are a variety of shapes and styles in fashion, but not all of those look good on every person. A petite woman is not going to look glamorous in a large brim, floppy fedora -- she's going to look like she's hiding. Wearing something that makes you look put together, effortlessly, always increases confidence and looks great, and results in the hat being worn more often, which is key. I love helping people feel beautiful or handsome in their choices.
How to best care for one's new hat? Tips for cleaning or storing hats in one's wardrobe.
Hats do not like being cleaned. If it is necessary to clean one, spot cleaning with a mild detergent, or if it is a felt hat, dry cleaning, is best. When storing, I recommend stuffing the crown with tissue and placing the hat upside down on a shelf or hanging it on the edge of a door. If you are storing felt hats over the summer keep them away from moths as you would a cashmere sweater -- in a sealed plastic bin or storage chest. This will keep your brim and crown in shape so your hat is ready to wear the next time you are ready to wear it.
What are the most popular hat trends for this year's Kentucky Derby season?
Kentucky derby hats traditionally have giant brims, and this year we see people opting for asymmetrical styles, such as the Paloma pictured. An asymmetrical hat helps keep your sight line free. We make very pretty fabric flowers to go along with the hats, but I often recommend that a fresh flower garnier is the prettiest, and allows the hat to be worn to weddings or outdoor parties without a flower.
How to consider the best hat for your face shape?
It is difficult to determine the best shape for yourself without trying hats on. Both face shape and hair length, and texture are factors in how a hat will look. If you have a round face and curly hair, a wide brim cloche is going to be the most flattering, and will frame rather than squash your curls. Men often want to wear stingy, or short brim fedoras, and I usually recommend that they consider the width of their shoulders when choosing a hat. A large frame in a small brim makes the person look even bigger, and if that is not the look you are going for it can be unflattering. Usually if a man is over six feet I recommend a larger brim. Women who are tall and have very long hair look best in wide brim fedoras and cloches -- thus the plethora of actresses and models strutting around in them.
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