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Academy Award Hat -
Available for bidding on Mar. 1, 2010
For our fifth hat auction, Cape Cod milliner Sally Faith Steinmann of MAGGIE MAE DESIGNS® has created this stunning one-of-a-kind couture Derby hat in honor of Academy Award. A newcomer to Old Friends, this son of Secretariat was donated to Old Friends by Golden Globe-winning actress Angie Dickinson who has long supported Old Friends, along with Secretariat's owner Penny Chenery and Boston-based TV producer Barbara Bowen.
There is no denying it -- Academy Award is royalty. Out of the mare, Mine Only, this chestnut son of the great Secretariat may not stand as tall as his sire yet he still has the heart and breeding of a royal line that goes all the way back to the great Bold Ruler and Somethingroyal. Academy Award scored a major stakes victory on the turf in the Early Times Manhattan Handicap (GR II), in which he defeated Stage Colony, another retiree of Old Friends who passed away in 2009. It was a must that the hat created for this royal son needed to celebrate Academy Award's own achievements as well as his heritage. And it had to sparkle just like Academy Award.
To showcase this amazing athlete's chestnut coat and noble pedigree, a substantial hat was created in rich cinnamon-chocolate dupioni silk. Soft chocolate organza layers were added to form a wavy brim, meant to convey the undulating action of the Thoroughbred racehorse in motion. A very special, innovative trim design was created in specific colors, textures and shapes to bring together all of the elements of this stallion's conformation, name and pedigree as well as to celebrate the glorious "Run for the Roses".
And one can hardly create a hat for a horse named Academy Award without adding elements of Hollywood's finest hour to the construction. In honor of the red carpet, a red dupioni silk underbrim was created which provides a striking contrast against the wavy chocolate organza brim edge whenever the wearer's head is tilted up even slightly. Pure magic...
A ruched gold taffeta sash and sculpted leaves further remind us of the gilded setting of the red carpet show, the golden Oscar statues, and the actors in their elegant tuxes and glittering designer gowns.
For the hat's centerpiece, a single bold red silk organza rose curl was created in honor of Derby Day. The petals of the rose curl were carefully "pressed" to create an innovative new look that hints at Derbys past and present, and nestles into a setting of gold shantung leaves that frame it beautfully. A smaller version of this same rose curl design sets in the very back of the hat. Blue netting sprays and looped blue French ribbon accents are meant to remind us of Academy Award's signature racing colors of Yale blue with lighter blue hoops.
Is it even possible that one hat could hold so much magic? The red carpet, Thoroughbred royalty and a very special new friend at Old Friends... Could there ever be a more fitting way to celebrate the "Run for the Roses" and the splendor of that first Saturday in May?
Academy Award photo by Rick Capone
Steinmann, who owns the Massachusetts-based Maggie Mae Designs®, is donating seven magnificent millinery creations to raise funds for Old Friends, the 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization that is home to nearly 90 retired racehorses. Each hat is inspired by one of the retirees at Old Friends and will be auctioned monthly with 100 percent of the online proceeds going to Old Friends.
To see the previous hats in the auction series check out:
Black Tie Affair - Commentator - Bull Inthe Heather and Little Silver Charm - Will's Way |
