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Hats Off to Individual Style

by chief princess on July 28, 2010

children's hat

a different type of hat

It’s next to impossible to find a hat if you’re under 12.  I’m not talking about baseball caps or beach hats.  I’m talking about the fancy adornment one wears to a luncheon.  The fashion hat.  So why the lament?  Because the end of July marks the horse trials at Fitch’s Corner.   It’s a delightful affair for horse and non horse lovers alike.   Part of the weekend festivities include a spectator luncheon where ladies, men and children all don fashion hats.

This year we decided to attend the luncheon with friends.  It was an easy commute as I was showing our children’s special occasion dresses in the tented market area.   Outfits were selected, shoes were judged, jewelry was pinned and hat boxes came out.  Slowly, outfits were assembled for my husband, my eldest daughter and me.  Everyone except my youngest daughter.  She had her dress, her shoes, a charming bracelet, everything except a hat.  Since I planned on being in The City the week before the luncheon, I wasn’t overly concerned.  I was sure to find something for her to wear.   Indeed, there were a variety of hats, but nothing worth buying.   It was one of those sweltering summer afternoons and I gave up after 3 stores.  The day before the luncheon, I was still hat-less.  My niece, who was visiting to help out with the show gave me a brilliant idea.  Why not take a silk flower from one of my children’s special occasion dresses, attach it to a matching hair bow, use the just a wisp communion veil, throw in a few bobby pins and voila…a chic chapeau.

To be fair, my daughter had her doubts.  I pulled out some of my more delicate cocktail affairs (wisps of tulle rather than structured affairs).  It helped a little but she still wasn’t fully embracing the concept.  Bottom line, she wanted a conventional hat.  However, my daughter received a lesson in style.   While it’s easy to wear the conventional, the memorable is usually the unusual.  It’s the way the elements are put together that creates the effect.  That coupled with the right attitude creates a sublime effect.   At least that’s what the photographer told her as he asked to take her picture.

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Silk in the Summer

by chief princess on July 11, 2010

girls party dress

it shows when girls feel pretty

I used to think that silk was better suited for the fall and winter seasons.  My pre-teenage daughter (they’re also known as tween girls) convinced me otherwise.  Last Saturday was the Fourth of July party that we traditionally attend.  It’s a wonderful tented affair near Halcyon Lake, with traditional barbecue fare culminating in fireworks.  Knowing how hot it can be in July in the Hudson Valley, I selected cotton dresses that were perfect for the warm weather.  Unfortunately, the color wasn’t in keeping with the red, white and blue theme that my oldest daughter had in mind, so she asked if she could wear the sapphire blue sleeveless Contessa dress to the festivities.

At first I thought that the silk dress might be too warm for the  occasion.  Granted the style was sleeveless but I was worried about it being made from silk.  My husband laughed over my concerns and reminded me that the weather in Thailand is “rather tropical” and the dress was made from Thai silk.  In fact, silk is a natural fabric that’s quite versatile for a variety of climates.  In colder weather, the fabric feels warm and cozy; in warmer weather, the fabric breathes and feels cool against the skin.  On top of my “temperature issue”, I was worried that the fabric might look too dressy.   While I’d rather be over-dressed than under-dressed, it’s really best to appropriately dressed.   Then I remembered how a silk blouse goes with either jeans or something much fancier.  Well, it’s pretty much the same with a silk dress.  It’s as if the silk fabric absorbs and reflects the atmosphere.

With all of these fashion issues resolved, my tween girl put on her festive frock (and matching shoes) and off we went.  She looked beautiful in her dark blue dress but more importantly she felt confident and festive in her dress selection.

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Teaching Children Etiquette Through Golf

golf balls

Etiquette lessons come in different forms and children can learn manners in unconventional ways.  This week both my girls started golf lessons.   Watching the golf pro impart his knowledge reminded me that golf is more than swinging a club at a ball.  There’s the etiquette that surrounds the game.  Too often people focus on their [...]

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Appropriate Summer Attire

Thumbnail image for Appropriate Summer Attire

I recently received a summer bulletin about dressing casual and reminding club members that “what may look smashing on Main Street is not necessarily appropriate for the clubhouse.”   The reminder generated a rolling of eyes at lunch from a friend who is also a member.  We both wondered what it is about the summer that [...]

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Jeans or No Jeans

country club

Apparently there’s a big controversy in the hushed halls of exclusive country clubs across America.  It’s pitted one generation against another.  It crosses gender lines.  What is this social quagmire, you may ask?  Simply stated, members are asking: “should jeans be added to the approved list of club attire?” Many country clubs are trying to [...]

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