For more information, please visit Luxe Life Magazine. 

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The Kentucky Castle

Dressing the part for the tea was a bit of a challenge in deciding the time frame on which to focus.  The show encompassed the timeline from 1912 to 1926.  My friend Natalie and I focused on the Edwardian period, which is at the start of the show.

My outfit was a challenge as I was dealing with shipping delays due to the bad weather and dresses selling out.  I received one dress that I liked but the zipper was broken and I had to return it.  At the last minute, the dress I loved came back in stock and I ordered it!  The white lace fabric was delicious and even better than I had expected.

I added a cameo brooch from my family in addition to my Grandmother’s hat.  The wig was styled to mimic Lady Cora’s hair style in the below photo.  Hair styling is a challenge but I am getting better.

My dear friend Natalie helped me out with researching clothing and afternoon tea in the Edwardian period.  Natalie worked for three months compiling research on the clothing, hats, etiquette, hair styles and tea. I am blessed to have such a caring and talented friend.  Putting together these events is nerve wracking at times.  Natalie’s calming presence helps me get through the preparation for these events.

Natalie brought clothing from the Edwardian period as well as postcards from the era.  It really brings the era to life when people can touch and see these garments in person.

Isn’t Natalie’s hat delicious?  It is vintage and was from the 1912 period.  It is beaverette. The ostrich feathers and plaid silk ribbon are original.

Natalie made her outfit. Isn’t it fabulous? I love the berry color.  It was quite a feat and I think she did a great job capturing the feel of the Edwardian period.  Natalie is a talented designer who recreates clothing in many different periods.

As favors, I gave out tea samples with a gold spoon.  I always like for guests to have a treat to take home as a memory from the event.  Putting together the favors was time consuming, putting all the pieces together and tying the bows.

It was such a pleasure to speak at the Kentucky Castle.  The soft glow of the lights, along with shimmering gold touches in the room created the perfect atmosphere for the guests.

So many wonderful memories from the day.  I feel blessed to do what I love, surrounded by wonderful people, teaching afternoon tea etiquette and history in a such a glorious setting.

The post A Winter Edwardian and 20’s Themed Tea at The Kentucky Castle appeared first on Polly Singer.

With Natalie channeling my Georgian past life.

I often think that I am the luckiest person in the world because I get to play “dress up” in my job as an Afternoon Tea Etiquette instructor/educator.

When Sally from the Kentucky Castle mentioned a Georgian/Regency theme for a tea, I was thrilled.  Why? I really enjoy dressing up in period clothing and escaping to another time.  The Georgian/Regency period features beautiful fashion with unlimited options.

Outfit wise, it was easier than you might think.  There were many different levels and pieces but they mostly came together easily.  I found my dress immediately.   Next, a hoop skirt was needed.  That was the fun part!  It was surprisingly easy to walk in and created a breeze as I moved. The earrings came from a designer in Portugal.  The fan and reticule were items that I already owned.  The hat was from the Colonial Williamsburg period.  I added a satin burgundy trim on the brim edge to define the brim and make a statement.   The ensemble was comfortable.

With Jane Hale and Kail Po.

The real challenge was the hairdo.  Of course, isn’t it always?  Natalie and I purchased wigs, perused books and online sources such as YouTube to research hair styles during the Georgian period.  Making the wigs look historically authentic was a daunting task at best.   Georgian hairstyles were completely over the top. We placed padding inside the wigs to add height.  I had almost given up on the wig, but it all came together the night before.  Thank goodness!

The ladies who attended the tea dressed up!

It was so fun to see the ladies who attended the tea.  They dressed up and really added a lot to the event.

The Kentucky Castle was the perfect venue for this tea.  It is an elegant setting, and everything was well planned.  

The china was lovely and captured the essence of the tea perfectly. 

I talked about etiquette and especially court etiquette during the time of Queen Charlotte.  There was a great deal of pressure was on the young women to make “good matches” for their families.  I described Queen Charlotte’s life and the upheavals during her reign.  I also explained the language of fans to send messages at a gathering.  Everyone loved that!  I created a Regency themed IQ test for the guests and everyone did well as three people tied for first place.

Finally, the weather was phenomenal.  A perfect autumn day! The castle looked beautiful and created the ideal setting for

guests to enjoy the tea.

Disclaimer: Neither Polly Singer or The Kentucky Castle is affiliated with Netflix, Shondaland Productions, Julia Quinn or any other entity associated with the Bridgerton Books or Series.

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Last November, I taught hat embellishment classes at the invitation of Hoffman Media at the Gracious Living Celebration.  It was a pleasure and honor on so many levels.  The celebration honored the life of founder, Phyllis Hoffman DePiano.

Phyllis Hoffman with son, Eric

Early in my millinery career, Phyllis was a client of mine and I designed her hat for the Kentucky Derby, pictured above.  When I received the call from her office about designing for her,  I was thrilled because she was someone who I looked up to. I admired her accomplishments both in the publishing world and also as an artist who could play piano, sew, bake, decorate, and even paint.   I thought the classic Audrey Hepburn style with the big curved black brim looked fabulous on her.  She is shown here with her son, Eric.

The event was incredible on so many levels.  On the first night, twin brothers Brian and Eric Hoffman talked about their mother Phyllis. I cannot imagine how difficult it was for them. Most people in the room had tears in their eyes as the brothers shared their precious and very personal memories with us.

Their “sister” Lorna spoke about Phyllis and her incredible kindness.  She had the capacity to change lives and led by inspiring others.

Afterwards at the book signing, I introduced myself to Brian and told him the Derby hat story. He immediately jumped up, ran around to the front of the table and gave me the biggest hug! Phyllis loved her twin sons and was so proud of them.

In addition, I listened to cookbook author Barbara Gantt speak about her personal journey.  As a lover of biscuits and Southern food, I was inspired by the story of her life.  Barbara Gantt became an overnight internet sensation in her 70’s when she filmed a simple video about baking biscuits.  Her speech was captivating.

Also, speaking was Lady Carnarvon of Highclere Castle.  It was interesting to learn everything involved in the running of an establishment such as Highclere.  Lady Carnarvon has done a great job bringing the beauty and mystique of Highclere to the world.

We had tea at the Williamsburg Inn.  It was just fabulous!  So elegant.   Phyllis loved Williamsburg, which she visited annually.  The tea was one of the best that I have ever attended.  Interestingly enough, we were served scones first.  Tea Time Editor Lorna Reeves remarked that scones should be served warm, which I heartily agree with. Warm scones are an excellent start to Afternoon Tea. We were also served Prosecco at the beginning of the tea, which makes it a Royal Tea.  Queen Elizabeth II was a guest at the Williamsburg Inn as was Winston Churchill.

Teaching the hat embellishment classes was so much fun!  I met the kindest and most interesting group of ladies.  Many did not know anything about sewing but quickly learned how to make fabric flowers for their hats.  It was inspiring to see them gain confidence and learn a new skill.  Here are some of them.

Finally, it was incredible to meet the editors of my favorite magazines!  They were gracious, and their hard work made the event a total success.  Reading Tea Time, Southern Lady and Victoria is a soothing and uplifting experience. It was nice to meet the ladies who are responsible for creating such beauty through words and photography.

Lorna Reeves, me, Ashley Shaw, and Melissa Lester

Shown here is Southern Lady Editor-in-Chief Ashley Shaw wearing Darjeeling.  It’s always wonderful when the right hat is on the right lady!

I’m shown here with Brian Hoffman, President, Chief Creative Officer, Owner and Editor-in-Chief of Bake From Scratch. Brian is also the son of founder, Phyllis Hoffman DePiano.

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I had such a great time “spilling the tea” with Patricia Mae Olson.  Listen to our behind the scenes chat about the world of hats and tea.  I go into great detail about my journey and what it takes to be a milliner.  We spoke about creativity and how childhood hobbies sometimes inspire us, creating our future!

Patricia is just so much fun!   We laughed throughout the podcast and found that we had much in common!

I met Patricia at the Gracious Living Celebration in Williamsburg, Virginia.  It was a Hoffman Media event, celebrating the life of founder, Phyllis Hoffman. We hit it off and she invited me to be a guest on the Preppy Podcast.   Patricia was in a hat class where I was a guest instructor, teaching the art of fabric flower making.

Patricia is the founder of Piqued PR, with clients featured in Oprah and Southern Living, Real Simple and many more media outlets.  She works with clients across the country, helping them plan press, coordinate events and successfully coordinate influencer marketing.

Most notably, Patricia was recently featured in Victoria Magazine’s Business of Bliss.  Quite an honor!

For more information on Patricia Mae Olson and Piqued PR, visit:

https://www.piquedpr.com/

https://patriciamaeolson.com/

https://thepreppypodcast.com/

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Last week, I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Kris Castle, owner of Castle Insurance. Based in Georgetown, Kentucky, she loves insurance and goes the extra mile for her customers.  Castle Insurance also has sponsored some fabulous car shows. Many people don’t know that I am an avid car buff.   If money were no object, I could easily become a car collector as I love car design.

I met Kris through the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce.  We discovered that we had a mutual love of all things British and of course, tea!  Kris has been to my home for a Queen’s Jubilee Tea and attended a few of my other teas.  In addition, she is a mom to three daughters.

Kris and I chat about work/life balance, which is always a challenge for any business owner.   We discussed what I do to de-stress, which has been a lifesaver to my sanity.

I really enjoyed talking with Kris and learning more about what she does as an insurance professional. Insurance is one of those things that we often don’t realize its importance until we need it.

The goal of her podcast is to inspire others.  Listening to the episodes has inspired me!

For more information, click on the link below.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/5-hats-health-and-harmony-polly-singers-career/id1763432361?i=1000672161503

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The theme for this year’s Spring line is, The Rainbow Queen, inspired by Queen Elizabeth II and her colorful style.

Queen Elizabeth II famously informed fashion trends around the world for decades and I’ve always admired her unabashed love of color.

I believe she knew all about the joy that color can bring, and how it can lift moods and elevate spirits.

Over her lifetime, Queen Elizabeth made many exemplary fashion statements through the use of color, and along with being the United Kingdom’s longest reigning monarch, she surely holds the title of its most vibrant as well!

The late Queen had ties to rainbows it seems, even after she passed away.  In the days following her death, rainbows were seen all over England, especially in London and at Balmoral.  She was the Rainbow Queen to the very end.

With 2023 being the first year, in generations, that the world has been without the beloved Queen Elizabeth, it felt like such a moment to take…to pay homage to her beautiful style and love of color by creating a collection inspired by one who was so inspirational herself.

In the names of these new designs you’ll find The Queen’s beloved pups and horses, her residences and even her favorite beverage!

Here are some of the new designs from The Rainbow Queen, 2023 Spring collection.

More designs from this 2023 collection can be seen right now at www.hatsandveils.net and even more will be revealed in the coming days!

If you’d like a chance to shop, in-person, styles from The Rainbow Queen collection please join me at my 3rd Annual Hat Tea!
April 15th
Fasig-Tipton
2400 Newtown Pike
Lexington, KY

11:00- Doors open
NOON: Afternoon Tea service begins, promptly

With your ticket you will enjoy:
– An elegant four-course Afternoon Tea service, paired with artisan teas from my tea line
– A live-model hat fashion show
– The pop-up hat shop, featuring the new 2023 Rainbow Queen Spring Collection
– Special guest & lifestyle blogger, Suzanne Smith (@CrazyBlondeLifeBlog), will join me in conversation to discuss fashion, food, and being fabulous at ANY age!

Tickets available at https://www.hollyhilleventsky.com/shop/p/hat-tea

I hope to see you there!

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