I recently found that about 50 people left their comments on my website. All these new comments were in ‘Approve’ folder, so I needed to tick them before they go live. I came across this folder by pure accident (I’m still learning how to use my own website!) and I was overwhelmed with such a positive response on my blogs.

So, after reading these positive comments I feel inspired and enthusiastically decided to write more.

And here we are, my new blog, and of course, hats are the topic.

This blog is devoted to the famous annual Millinery Award which typically happens in Melbourne during the celebrated Cup week. The most glamorous and prestigious Australian horse racing events, such as Derby day, Melbourne Cup and Oak’s Day are hosted during this week.

Normally, the millinery award is hold on Oak’s day, Thursday.

Normally….

I called this blog “A very special edition’’, because of course, as many other things during 2020, the annual Millinery Award happened in Melbourne this year in a very different way to what normally happens.

Melbourne was in strict lock down since March, so that even though races were held, they were behind closed doors with no public access. So, instead the usual catwalk millinery show happened at the Flemington racecourse, milliners were asked to submit photos of their creation and judgment was done on these provided photos.

Some hat makers had access to professional photographers and could invite a model to demonstrate their headpiece for a photo session, but some could not do this, due to being in a lockdown area  or in remote regions.  Some could source new materials for their creation, but some could not, and they had to work with what was left in their drawers from previous projects.

So, you will see a mixture of professional and non-professional photos there. Please do not be judgemental, everyone was doing their best creating a headpiece and presenting it under the pressure of lock downs and restrictions.

There is a reason which motivated me to create this blog. Somehow there was no single site to see all entries. There was a separate page for finalists at https://www.cupweek2020.com.au/fashion/millinery-award-finalists/ and some hats can be seen on #myermillineryaward in Instagram.

Usually, many hours of work are needed to create a beautiful headpiece worthy of entering such a prestigious award. This blog was created with the purpose to commemorate work and creativity of all participants and show their creations to a wider audience in the same place.

It is quite possible, that there were more artworks submitted to the award. Entries presented here, it is what I personally could find from social media and other areas in the Internet.

If you know someone else who participated, please let me know and I will be happy to add to this collection.

All entries are presented in the alphabetical order with hashtags (which refers to Instagram handles of their creators), so you can find more about each headpiece if interested.

Enjoy!

Image credit to: abigailfergussonmillinery

Image credit to: ameldamillinery

Image credit to: ana_bella_millinery (finalist)

Image credit to: anita.marshall.millinery

Image credit to: chrismullanemillinery

Image credit to: felicitynortheastmillinery

Image credit to: hatricksbymichelle

Image credit to: helenrosemillineryImage credit to: fox_millinery

Image credit to: lauren.j.ritchie

Image credit to: lisahughesmillinery (finalist)

Image credit to: millineryjill (finalist)

Image credit to: millinerylaalaa

Image credit to: nataliebikicki (finalist)

Image credit to: rebeccashare (finalist)

Image credit to: sonliafashion (finalist)

Image credit to: thatmillinery

Image credit to: velvetandtonic (finalist)

Image credit to: ziapazzaheadwear

Image credit to: peacockmillinery (2nd runner up)Image credit to: angiejackmandesign (1st runner up) Image credit to: stephaniespencer___ (the winner)