The Deighton Cup is one of Vancouver’s precious few opportunities for getting gussied up. The only problem: If you’ve been to the event one or two (or seven) times, how do you keep things fresh?
Take inspiration from current fashion trends, horseracing culture or historical eras, says Crystal Carson, Deighton Cup style director and judge of Style Stakes, the event’s competition for best-dressed.
“Androgyny is big on runways and I’m going to do a menswear look with lingerie. A jockey-inspired look would also be fun,” she says. “Horseracing has been around for hundreds of years, so why not look at what people did in the ’20s or ’50s?”
But by far the easiest way to change things up annually is to alternate your focus – one year, concentrate on the outfit and keep the hat simple, the next, do the opposite.
Heads up
Hats aren’t mandatory, however, plenty of Vancouverites relish the chance to put something other than a toque on their heads.
“People find hats intimidating because they’re not used to wearing them, but often clients who say they want something small end up with the most dramatic pieces,” says Dominique Hanke, owner of Hive Mind Millinery. She says choosing a hat is all about balance.
“If you’re tall, don’t wear something tall and if you’re wide, don’t wear something wide. If you’ve got a little round face, don’t cover it with a big floppy hat,” she says. “You don’t have to go for traditional styles – The Duchess of York wore a fedora to Royal Ascot this year.”
On a budget
The dearth of dressy occasions in our neck of the woods means a Deighton Cup outfit will often be worn just once. Carson says the way to get bang for your sartorial buck is to wear separates so you can re-use the pieces.
“Culottes are a great thing to try this year,” she says. Hats are seen as pricy, but can be affordable – Hanke’s start at $150 for a fascinator. Carson says you can also modify something you’ve worn before by removing or adding flowers and ribbons.
“It’s traditional – when women wore hats all the time they would re-trim them at home,” she says. Carson suggests turning that into an event.
“Get creative! Have a hat exchange or get together for a crafting session with cocktails.”
SH: Fun for all
The stereotype of horseracing events is that they’ll be stiff and stuffy, but Carson says the Deighton Cup is an exception.
“It’s only eight years old and doesn’t come from a historical tradition, so its focus is just fun. It’s not snobby at all. Of course it’s classy and luxurious, but not pretentious – just like Vancouver,” she says.
Photoshoot credits
Photography: Andrea Glaserova
Production and styling: Crystal Carson
Makeup: Cait Callahan
Hair: www.theglamoury.com
Assistant: Lisa Zappia
Location: Hastings Racecourse
Models: Crystal Carson and Christie Lohr
