parisian party

It’s time to go hat shopping!!!

The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is coming up on October 6th and 7th at the Hippodrome de Longchamp in the Bois de Boulogne, and I wouldn’t be caught dead in last years’ chapeau! Oh! First, I should mention that horse racing aficionados travel from all over the world for this race- one which showcases the best thoroughbreds in the world. It’s followed by over 55,000 spectators and 1 billion television viewers in nearly 200 countries! It’s a very, VERY big deal on the horse-racing circuit.

That said, it’s also a big deal for fashion (and fun!) aficionados who pounce on the opportunity to show off the finest in Parisian millinery. The Chapeaux de l’Arc, now in its’ 7th year, is a fabulous hat contest sponsored by Lucien Barrier Hotels and Casinos and Madame Figaro. The contest, which will be held on Sunday October 7th, is free to enter and is open to all women who sign up between 11h00 and 17h00. There are 2 different categories that you can enter: Category no.1: which is for women sporting professional hats (created by professional milliners or bought in a store or a boutique, etc.), and Category no. 2: which is for those show-offs with no professional hat-making experience who have whipped up their own, personal creations just to make the rest of us feel bad for showing up in our plain-old “store bought” toppers (sigh!)… In past years, over 500 women have competed for prizes like a week-end for 2 at a Barrier hotel, or dinner at a Barrier establishment. Which brings me back to my original thought…It’s time to go hat shopping!!!

Even if you aren’t planning on competing in the hat contest, there’s no reason not to show up looking like a finalist! For first-time hat buyers, the obvious place to start would be the larger department stores- Printemps and Galleries LaFayette carry independent designers, as well as their own line of fine hats. One designer that I really like is Celine Robert, who sells at Le Bon Marche and Galleries LaFayette, as well as out of her own boutique on boulevard Sebastopol in the 3rd. I bought a sweet 1920’s-inspired cloche of hers at les soldes last year, and have been trying to squeeze my gargantuan noodle into it ever since! Her hats are feminine, classic, a little bit funky, but without being so over-the-top that after Longchamp you’ll never wear it again. If “off-the-rack” doesn’t suit your Parisian hat-buying tastes, try Estelle Ramousse in the 20th arrondissement for a luxe, made-to-measure chapeau. I’ll see you at the races!