With Ladies Day at Musselburgh Racecourse fast approaching, we speak to Scottish milliner Sally-Ann Provan about how to use your head to make an impression.
With the return of Ladies Day bringing a host of immaculately groomed girls and guys to Musselburgh Racecourse near Edinburgh on Saturday, June 13, the competition is hotter than ever for the Best Dressed title.
The smartest style mavens know accessories make the difference, none more so than the hat. Any discerning Ladies Day regular would attest to their hat being the icing on the cake, the pièce de résistance when it comes to pulling together a standout look for raceday.
And, as Musselburgh Racecourse’s annual fixture approaches, sartorial focus is turning to the trimmings with Scottish milliner Sally-Ann Provan having been tasked with creating a breath-taking piece to celebrate this most stylish of social occasions.
The Ladies Day Hat brought together equestrian influences with elegant, sophisticated millinery honed throughout a career in couture and theatrical hat design.
Having originally trained in jewellery design at Duncan and Jordanstone College of Art and Design in Dundee, a yearning for more colour, texture and scale prompted Sally to embark on a new creative venture.
She said: “I had always incorporated surface pattern and colour in my jewellery work so moving into millinery felt like a natural progression. I’d also always loved fashion and costume design.
“As a teenager, I had been a member of a youth theatre, however, being utterly hopeless on stage, it was the costume side of things that I enjoyed.”
While working part-time for the museum service in Dundee building creative sets, then in paper conservation with the university, Sally saved to embark of millinery training in London.
“It was the only place to go,” she said.
“At the time, there was only one MA course in millinery, but having already taken a jewellery degree and with no background in fashion I didn’t think I had a chance of being accepted.”
During her time she learned from milliner Mitzi Lorenz, underwent couturier training with Rose Cory – milliner to the late HRH Queen Mother – and worked with the Royal Opera House.
Twenty years down the line, Sally is now one of the leading lights in Scottish millinery. Having shown collections at London Fashion Week and created pieces for the BBC, Scottish Opera and Scottish Ballet – not to mention a host of glamorous ladies attending Ascot and Royal garden parties – who better to create something distinctive for one of the most fashionable days in the Scottish social calendar?
“Many women come to me looking to have something really unique created just for them. There’s a movement away from high street and mainstream fashion plus I think people like to have a connection with the maker, that’s one of the things my clients love. They come here and are part of the process, get to make decisions and discuss ideas.
“Styles vary; an outgoing, glamorous lady will often head towards something more extravagant, but for a more refined look, something flamboyant would be out of character. I think it’s really great to challenge your clients though – quite often they’ll surprise themselves opting for something quite different to what they thought they wanted to wear. I never want a lady to leave here not feeling fantastic and you can tell straightaway – as soon as the smile appears, that’s it.
“What I do isn’t trend led, I specialise in pieces which are timeless, modern and elegant. A hat allows you to express yourself in a way that perhaps other pieces of clothing don’t. Hats can be quirky, fun, it’s a good way of introducing a pop of colour into the outfit as well. They are incredibly flattering too – adding height without weight – and when a lady puts on a hat she’ll stand differently, more confidently. It’s lovely to see actually.”
With both the Queen of Style and Best Hat competitions to play
for, picking out the right crown is one of the most important decisions
for fashionable fillies ahead of Ladies Day. Receiving commissions from around the country, Sally-Ann has her eye on which looks are leading the crowd this year:
“We’re selling a lot of pillboxes and saucers, both of which are really flattering to wear, but it’s all down to just getting
proportion right. We have women from all over the UK looking for
something special for Ladies Day and the thought of having something made especially for you is a really lovely thing.”