In Celebration of Hats and Horses

Upon hearing the name, “The Madder Hatters” what sort of light-hearted fantasy would one envision? The character from Alice in Wonderful and his distinctive head covering certainly come to mind and rightly so, since fun and fantasy figure prominently in the wonderfully creative hats produced by The Madder Hatters: Diana Niles King and Belle McIntyre

Inspiration for the hats comes from a myriad of sources. McIntyre invoked the name of an icon of the industry, the Irishman: Philip Treacy as well as Sylvia Fletcher - Kate Middleton’s preferred milliner and Stephen Jones who curated Hats: An Anthology at Bard College last spring.

Historical research also plays a key role in the creative process. “We have lots of books on hats through the ages,” McIntyre noted. The Edwardian influence seen recently in Downton Abbey is also on display.

The Madder Hatters feature whimsical creations tailored to their audience. Some are adorned with chickens, flower, feathers and vegetables. The “Old MacDonald” included fences, grass, pigs and goats.

Custom-made hats are also an integral part of the mix. A real show-stopper, one marveled at by Bill Cunningham, was made for a customer who favors vintage clothing. It looks like a beehive, replete with bees, affixed with wires for the full effect. The client wore it with a yellow dress and a bee pin.

McIntyre captured the essence of the firm’s modus operandi: “We try to keep them quirky enough that they’ll be inspiring to anyone.”

One of the places to see and be seen in a hat this summer is at the 20th anniversary of Fitch’s Corner Horse Trials on the weekend of July 19. Added excitement will be provided by the participation of three riders who also competed in the London Olympics. There will be several events including the spectator luncheon, a benefit for the Millbrook Rescue Squad. Organizer Fernanda Kellogg mentioned that she benefited from their services after a fall from her horse. “It’s a great way to help them because they help us and the entire community,” she noted.

In addition, the Millbrook Horse Trials will begin on August 1 and continue through August 4. This tony gathering includes a celebration of champions dinner that Saturday evening.

For further information please visit the following websites:
www.themadderhatters.com
www.fitchscorner.com
www.millbrookhorsetrials.com