MISS ALEXIA REPORTS FROM THE LAUNCH OF A MILLINERY CONCEPT PERFECTLY TIMED FOR THE MELBOURNE SPRING RACING CARNIVAL
Words: Alexia Petsinis
Photographs: André Vidal and Robert Anthony.
The Eternal Headonist offers a vibrant collection of modern millinery by 11 of Melbourne’s leading craftsmen and women. Bright, bold and by no means restricted to spring carnival attire, the collection, launched this week in Prahran’s Anna Pappas Gallery, highlights the extent to which contemporary millinery has departed from the realm of dainty tea-sipping-trackside lasses. None of that here. You commit to the modern hat, you commit to being looked at. It takes courage.
Photo: Robert Anthony
Handcrafted designs by Lisa Tan for example, feature ink-splat silk finishes and proud turkey plume trims while Rebecca Share offers fascinators in candy pink and mint, with structured additions twisting organically upward. And, that’s merely the beginning.
For those a tad more architecturally inclined, Serena Lindeman’s black and silver lamé pieces strike meltingly metallic silhouettes when perched on the head. Lynette Lim also favors happy-shiny textures in her Gold Garden headpiece; a fusion of heavy metal-head and floral chic, though it weighs next to nothing.
Hetty Kate. Photograph: Robert Anthony.
“Millinery is not dying; it is well and truly alive,” said Richard Nylon, master milliner, in his opening address. “What we need are sights like The Eternal Headonist to let us know that it’s here, it’s now, it’s happening, and it’s groovy.” It’s also incredibly theatrical, judging by Mr. Nylon’s own designs on display; two regal headpieces featuring plumage, mirrors, applique.
The Eternal Headonist was launched earlier this year as a curated online space by Annabel Allen who combined her business and creative skills to establish it as a platform for Australian milliners to promote and sell their designs. “There are so many Australia milliners who are doing many fantastic things,” Ms. Allen said. “Their work needs to be out there.”
Annabel Allen
Photograph: Andre Vidal
With rosé flowing and tangy glitter-dusted creations from Carlton’s Argentinian ice-creamery Helados Jauja, guests went a little mad-hatter as they tried on the diverse range of creations. ‘Does this make my head look big?’ was a typical quip. And, the bigger the better some might say! The heady dress-up soiree resulted in more than a few purchases on The Eternal Headonist’s bricks-and-mortar opening night.
Helados Jauja treats
Photograph: Robert Anthony
“I won’t be wearing this to the races; I never go,” said the proud new owner of a floral fuchsia raffia headpiece by Lynette Lim.. “But, I’ll be wearing it just about everywhere else this spring.” Popular among the creations definitely headed for the races, however, were pieces by designers including Natalie Bikicki, Reny Kestel and Studio Aniss, who wowed with laser-cut features on classic pillbox styles.
James Nolen
Photograph: Robert Anthony
So, got a hat? Wear it. Be a Modern Muse. And don’t be timid gents; take it from Master Nylon himself: “A hat is a woman magnet.”
Anna Pappas Gallery, 2-4 Carlton St., Prahran.
Main photograph, top: Miss Hetty Kate, by Robert Anthony (cropped).
