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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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Turnout matters.

To me, a visit to the paddock is worth fighting the crowds, for, in addition to supporting to my persistent (though erroneous) belief that I’m a good judge of horseflesh, I derive pleasure from admiring the grooms’ art. Beautifully conditioned, impeccably turned out thoroughbreds simply radiate breeding and care.

I’m conviced that, with a regime of customized nutrition, daily exercise and the tender ministrations of professional grooms, I too would dazzle . Well, it’s too late to do much about the nutrition and exercise but here are are few grooming tips that will help you sparkle on Derby Day.

Use moisturizer and/or foundation with sunblock. A bright red nose might be attributed to Mint Juleps. ( Juleps bear responsibility for enough shenanigans as it is.) Remember, any sunblock you carry into Churchill Downs must be in a plastic container.

Before Derby Day, apply the cosmetics you plan to use, put on your hat, and step outside with a mirror. Hat color will definitely effect the tone of your complexion. Large areas of color near the face reflect onto and tint the face. Color interaction is also a factor. Do you remember the color wheels we made in middle school art class? When predicting how one hue will affect another, think complements. The complement to purple is yellow, thus a lavender hat will make your face look more sallow. A green hat will bring out warm tones in the skin. Sunlight filtering through the brim of a hat is another factor in how we preceive color. Rose tones is a perfect example. Pink hats do wonderful, age defying things to a woman’s complexion. I still don’t know which color dress I’ll wear to Derby, but I can tell you this, my hat will be pink. Check out your make up with the hat, you may find that some adjustments, a warmer or cooler foundation, more or less blush, may be in order.

As mentioned above, step out in the sunlight with your mirror. Yes, I know this can be painful for a woman of a certain age, I recommended it all the same. We’re all hoping Derby Day will be sunny and clear. However the kind of day that brings us a fast track also has unforgiving lighting. Strong natural light calls for the sheerest foundation possible. If you need more coverage, make sure the finish is well blended, flawless. I’m younger than Dracula yet still at an age where I’d rather avoid mirrors and sunlight altogether, however, I do want to see the make-up, flaws and all, before anyone else does. Be brave, move toward the light.

By the same token, work with your hair and your hat before the morning of the Derby. Experiment with pinning bangs out of the way, straightening or curling the hair that shows beneath your hat. This is a good place to mention that, while the label sewn inside your hat band indicates what the milliner considers to be the back of the hat, don’t be a slave to labels, experiment, often the hat will look better rotated. Anyway, what do milliners know? By the time Derby rolls around,they’re all mad as hatters anyway.

In the realms of thoroughbred racing and ballet, two of my favorite worlds, turnout matters.

by Jan Masters Yon

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Pack the Right Tack

No well managed horse goes to the track without a foot box or tack box. A tack box, the equivalent of a ladies handbag, is stocked with all the equipment and emergency supplies that may be required for a day at the races.

Tack boxes contain everything from safety pins to shipping boots and are generously proportioned. Our handbags, not so generously proportioned, will never contain everything we want, but with judicial packing may contain everything we need. Let me take this opportunity to remind you of a few things you might want to toss in your clutch.

Plastic bag:
Warning, the Kentucky Derby is held in Kentucky, state motto: Unbridled Weather Conditions. Umbrellas are on the taboo list at the security gate, so, In the event of a rainy event having a bag, a dry cleaner’s bag will do, will save your charming Derby Hat (see blogs Hold on to Your Hat and Derby Tip of the Week- April 6 ). If you have room, pack two or three — be someone’s hero.

Sun block:
Kentucky weather, who knows? My parents-in-law were married here in May. Family lore has it the day was so hot that candles melted and drooped in the church. If the sun shines too bright on the Old Kentucky Home you’ll want sun block. Your big ol’ Derby Hat will provide protection for your face but bare shoulders call for SP 30 at least. Note: make sure your sunblock is in a plastic bottle. No glass allowed past the front gate.

Minimal Cosmetics:
Don’t pack the entire collection of war paint. Think damage control. A lipstick and compact should do for repairs. Troweling make-up on top of make-up is never a good idea unless you share a box with Cirque de Soeil. A couple of cotton swabs or cotton balls will be sufficient for cosmetic wear and tear. Here’s a handy and space saving product; rice paper sheets, available at most cosmetic counters will knock down any unwanted shine and take up very little space.

Tissues:
All right, I admit it. Horse races and curtain calls make me teary. These days one can’t always count on a gentleman to have a hanky at the ready. Stow a few Kleenex.

Safety Pins:
My friend P. dines out on her “Derby From Hell” story. She tells it so much better than I ever could. Suffice it to say, the punch line is “a kind woman in the ladies room had safety pins.” A word to the wise…

Pens or Pencils:
If you’re serious about your wagers, you’d best take notes. Since I’m indecisive by nature and prone to sudden hunches and handicapping epiphanies, I like mechanical pencils — the ones with erasers. If I erase my initial picks, I don’t have to face the “shoulda dones” when the long shot comes in. By the way, bring several pens or pencils but leave the Cartier fountain pen at home. An elegant writing instrument may finish off your look but nothing kills a good time like losing a cherished objet d’art.

Emergency Chocolate:
I’ve always included horse yummies in Tophat’s tack box, why not treat myself as well? The food at Churchill is good and plentiful but not always easily accessible. Anyway, sometime, say after 4 races and not a horse in the money, a girl needs a pick me up. My favorite, a local product, caramel and sea salt truffles and bourbon truffles are almost as good as hitting an exacta. Pack plenty, you’ll win friends even if you don’t win races.

As usual, I’m sure I’ve forgotten something. Oh yeah, be sure to bring your patience, humor and good nature. Every woman has a secret stash of the aforementioned. In a crowd of 150,000, It’ll come in handy and just may make your day.

For complete list of what you can and cannot bring into churchill, see Churchill Downs Hospitality and Security Procedures.

by Jan Masters Yon

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