Come see hats, hats, and more great hats!! Please comment and let me know your favorite

Last week on May 7th, I had the pleasure of attending the 26th annual Frederick Law Olmsted Awards Luncheon.  Frederick Law Olmsted, the famous American landscape designer and the father of American landscape architecture, designed many renowned urban parks, including the very magnificent Central Park in NYC.  The luncheon was held at the lovely Central Park Conservancy, and my dear friend, and landscape designer, Memrie Lewis is a member of the benefit committee.  Memrie is pleased to report that more than 2.4 million dollars was raised that day, which will be used to help keep Central Park the glorious haven that it is.   Hosted by The Women's Committee, the luncheon was so much fun.  Hats were optional, but come take a look - it was a hat extravaganza!!

These gardens, restored by Lyndon Miller, are spacious and verdant, planted with lovely cherries, boxwood, taxus, azaleas, tulips, perennials, and other cultivators. I visited the park the day before the luncheon to see the gardens before the crowds converged - the tents were just being erected over the great lawn.

Wide bluestone paths, taxus (yew shrubs), and apples give a stately architecture to the gardens.

The most beautiful feature of the gardens is the raised pergola, situated to the west of The Great Lawn
and Fifth Avenue - parterres of boxwood, taxus, and wisteria vines. When Ralph Lauren celebrated his
fortieth anniversary in business, he held the party here in this garden - dinner was served under the
pergola.

A wonderful view of the luncheon tent and the fountain looking east towards Fifth Avenue.

Karena, my wardrobe mistress, painting the soles of my Louboutins black - I am not a fan of the signature red soles and always change the red to black - this is easy if you use a broad sharpie.

I barely recognized my banker, Jane Heller and my publicist, Susan Magrino.  They certainly look more like ladies who lunch than the hard working business ladies they really are.  Their hats were made by Suzanne on East 61st Street.

I barely recognize myself - dressed in creamy white Marni and a Suzanne striped hat - I fit right in with
the crowd.

The first of many extraordinary “Chapeaux” that were worn to the luncheon.  Once called “coolie” hats, this shapes is now more politically correct with the name “pagoda.”

Some ladies wore their favorite hats from the past - some wore just nicely coiffed hair - others had new
expensive hats from the world's finest coutouriers.

brown straw

golden straw

A man!!! In a hat, no less.

a veritable garden in a brim

a better view of the roses and sweet peas

elegant, classic black and white

a wide brim with “cabbage” roses

a sea of hats of all styles!

Artificial flowers are used on the brims and sometimes under the brims - here, huge cabbage roses.

More hats and lots and lots of cameras - Jane and her friends are right in the center

Before the lunch everyone was able to approve or disapprove of the hats and the spring dresses and suits -
the weather was warm and sunny so everyone was comfortable in short sleeves and no coats.

A silly top hat bedecked with chrysanthemums and striped ribbons.

Memrie Lewis in conservative black with tulle and her friend, Tara Rockefeller, in wide brimmed white
with striped French ribbon.

A down-turned straw brim and a crown surrounded with very lovely silk flowers.

Suzanne, herself, with a small, extraordinary hat of straw, netting, and feathers.

Brin in a bright orange Suzanne, embellished with hot pink - she actually bought her hat before the dress.

Another one of Jane's guests in white with black and white ostrich feathers.

Trin in pale blue-gray straw with delicate straw decoration - a perfect match for her Chanel suit.

One of Jane's young friends in a classic black straw.

Joann in a confection of net

This was one of the most elegant outfits at the lunch - I think it was Ralph Rucci.

The only long coat we saw that day - white linen with a feathered hat.

These two elegant ladies both bought the same dress and coat at Carolina Herrera - only the hats were
different!  Of course they joked about the coincidence.

white netting on delicate white straw

more feathers on black straw

looks like raffia on a “pagoda” shaped base

Strapless dresses were not uncommon - nor were low cut dresses - odd for a New York luncheon, but nice.

Blaine Trump in a flowered wide brimmed hat.

leopard printed straw

simple, like an easter hat

fine straw with lots of big flowers

plain and very elegant

a very pretty face under a very pretty hat

another very pretty face under an equally attractive, small hat

orange feathers and straw

tailored and chic

Decollete with hat and sunglasses

My friend, Amy Goldman in a pretty red hat - everyone at her table looked wonderful.

Elegant black straw - very well-made.

white straw with black and white feathers

Jane's hat was very well made and went well with her black and white Italian suit-dress.

Two of Jane's guests in really beautiful hats.

Jane and her friend, Dorothy Bandier.

Jane and I!

One of my favorite hats - made by a French designer - colorful and fanciful.

A great big pink straw hat with real peonies and feathers.

Two very lively tables - hosted by journalist Deborah Roberts, Al Roker's wife (in yellow).

Mayor Bloomberg made a short but very flattering speech - congratulating The Ladies Committee who
raised more than 2 million dollars for the park.

my hat in black and white

Prudence in red - she looked gorgeous.

very sexy and old fashioned

a pretty hat

feathers?

one of the undulating hedges in the garden

Four charming interns who helped at the luncheon - they all work for The Conservancy.

a printed straw hat

The very prettiest lady at the lunch, I thought.

Joann up close - what an elegant hat!

My favorite hat of the day - colorful, pretty, fanciful, well-made, and very very attractive.

gorgeous flowers and woven straw

I loved this hat, too.

Silly but made a point - Sheep Meadow, Central Park.

very pretty

very pretty too

Very sexy - looks a bit out of place in Central Park - maybe better in Paris?

very chic

A photographer, happy to be shot himself.

wow!

Comments

[Dianne]

Amazing 'smörgåsbord' of hats! I think some people look good in hats, others so-so! Most looked lovely, you too Martha! Love the ones with the real flowers and the lady all dressed in white with the feather hat looked angelic. Thanks for showing us all the adorned heads!

[Joseph Brennan]

Martha:

It looks like you had great fun! It was nice of your friend, Jane Heller, to invite you and the others.

Frederick Law Olmsted was a very talented landscape architect. He was also responsible for the design of some of the gardens at my Alma Mater, Vassar, where I had the privilege of enjoying his work on a daily basis.

I believe he also did some work in Tuxedo Park in Orange County NY (my neck of the woods) where I have some family--talk about natural beauty. You really should see it some time.

The fancy hats were interesting, but I actually believe that understatement is the way to go. "Hats off" to you and your friends on your tasteful choices!

Joseph Brennan

[Nan Ashby]

This past Saturday, in Nashville, Tennessee, the Iroquois Steeplechase was held at Percy Warner Park. This is an event where the women wear hats. I have a hat for this occasion, but have not worn it as of yet to this event. I like hats and wish we were more determined to include them in our wardrobe. However, I think some of them deserve to maybe be used to serve the horses a meal or two. Nan

[Kathy]

Hi, Martha,
Thanks for the peek at the myriad of hats---indeed, an extravaganza! I liked yours best, elegant and beautiful.
Kathy

[Gretchen]

I adore the first black and white hat, as well as the one topped with cabbage roses!

[Trish]

Extravaganza is a good word; what an amazing sight! Everyone looked smashing including you and Jane but what happened to the hat you had on the show? Was that for another occasion? Thanks for so many great picutures! Trish

[Tammy Inman]

So many great hats! If I must choose only one it would be the one titled plain and elegant.
I really enjoyed seeing all the great photos.
Thanks

[Isle Dance]

Oh...lovely! I'd have to vote for the Very Sexy and Old Fashioned in black...as it's exactly what I'd want to wear if ever our little island had an event for it!

[Danielle]

I just feel so bad for your wardrobe assistant because you make her sit there and color the BOTTOMS of your shoes...a bit ridiculous, no? No one sees the bottoms of your shoes; I have about 10 or 15 pairs of Christian Louboutin's and with 1 or 2 wears, the bottoms get scuffed-up and you can hardly see the red anymore anyway!

I am a huge fan, and I respect and adore you...but that (having someone actually "sit" and take time to color the bottoms of your shoes) is a bit much and not very respectable or gracious AT ALL. I can't imagine deep down that Karena actually is happy and feels good about having to do such a degrading task!

[Georganne Lynch]

How wonderful!! What fun you must have had with all the beautiful hats. It looked as everyone was having a wonderful time. It's so nice of you to share these exciting events of your life. Thank you.

[Laurie Ivanchuk{Ukraine}]

That's alot of hatttttttttttttts woow so many nice ones. I would say my favorite is the classic black straw hat. Thanks for showing all those hatsssssssssss.

[Cathy]

Martha,
I was hoping you'd take pictures at the Conservancy Luncheon. Thanks to all of the ladies who gave us a peek at their hats/outfits.
Saw your hat unveiled on your show--the light tan one with the straw ribbon and small adornment. Must admit--liked the hat shown on your program rather than the hat you chose to wear. Understandably, the stripes in the the hat you wore are more in keeping with your wardrobe choice than the original hat you had unveiled. Speaking of wardrobe, I notice your shoes on each program and I have been looking for the "signature" red sole of a particular shoe maker. You're so clever to "eliminate" the red soles; nothing to distract from your particular style.
Cathy

[Pam from California]

I liked tailored and chic.

Um Martha I doubt you will ever " Just BLEND IN" I noticed folks in the background(some guys) are watching you gals when you are getting your pix taken, you can bet they were whispering" That's Martha"
Enjoyed the hat segment on The Martha Show nice to see the follow up photos from the actual event.

Now how about the votes on those mini cattle what did you end up naming them???

Pam from California

[Ulrika Skog]

I just love Decollete´s Loooooovely green hat.

[Evelyn]

Susan Magrino's hat is very elegant. I also love the simple black straw hat with the bow. Small hats are fashionable, but they don't look good on me. And the pagoda-hats are great! Love this post, because I love hats.

[Linda]

Martha:

Wow!! Hats galore. So many beautiful and some crazy hats!! I love them. It's a little hard to choose as all of them make a pretty statement, even the one with grass and sheeps on it. But if I was going to wear one it would be sleek and elegant straw hat, maybe adorned with a few flowers or a ribbon. I loved your hat, so elegant. Thanks for sharing all the beautiful pictures. It was fun to look at them.

Linda
Phila., PA

[Noelle]

Hi Martha. This seems like such a wonderful, fun event! After seeing the hat making segment on your show, I feel I am better able to appreciate the hard work that was involved in the making of each hat. It is almost impossible to pick a favorite, but I am really drawn to the pink hat with peonies and feathers. Cheers!

[Gilda]

I have a 'hat face' and wish I could attend such an event. I suppose we ladies here should just have our own event so we can show off! Looks like fun and I don't blame you for so many photos--there were gobs of lovely hats! I just loved it!

[Bet]

Lovely hats. It would be difficult to choose my favorite. I do think the pale blue gray one with the Chanel suit is particularly beautiful.

My mom, sister, niece and I visited the Biltmore House in Asheville, N.C., last week--and the grounds of that lovely estate were also designed by Frederick Law Olmstead! It was a treat to experience all the gardens there.

[Ann]

Hi Martha
I once attended the Kentucky Derby and spent more on my hat than I care to remember. I looked great but I'm not comfortable wearing a hat. You looked great but for some reason I don't see you as a hat person. I ended up giving my hat to my friend Donna and her golden retreiver thought it was a new toy - need I say more???

Ann
New Jersey

[Gloria Brown]

Thank you for the wonderful photos of a very worthy event. I had to go through your photos twice this morning because I enjoyed the hats so much and of course the lovely ladies!

I had the pleasure of seeing lots of hats a few years ago in Millinocket, Maine at the Red Hat Society meeting. The Red Hat Ladies were also flamboyant and lovely.

And Martha, I also color the bottom of my Louboutin's because I think the red is tacky.

I don't comment each day but I do enjoy viewing your blog each day.

[Linda]

Hi Martha,
I agree with you the purple hat with the multicolored flowers and matching dress is colorful and pretty. I also liked the lime green hat and dress outfit. The beige pagoda hat is really interesting. I have never seen so many hats! Thanks for sharing.
Linda

[Sadina]

Martha,

I first have to say that I love that you paint the bottom of your Louboutins black! I think it's lovely that you wear the shoes because they're beautiful and not so you can flash that red sole around so everyone knows you are wearing Louboutins. What a class act.

My favorite has got to be Prudence. She looks just spectacular.

[Sally]

Martha,
One of the most charming things about you is the fact that, although your life is so much more privledged than most of ours, you still get a kick out of the same things the rest of us do. You went to a high-society charity luncheon, and instead of posing and being seen, you snapped a load of pictures of crazy hats. You're a fun gal!!!!!
Thanks for being real,
Sally

[Sandra Dunn]

It is a rainy spring morning here in Ohio, and I am trying to pull myself together to go to work. I poured myself a cup of tea while looking to see what is happening in Martha's world and WHAT do I find, BEAUTIFUL SPRING HATS. What pleasure, what joy, to pick a favorite, next to impossible. I am a hat person and own several, invite me to a function where I can wear a hat, I will be there with two, just so I could make a change or loan the other. Thanks Martha for the pick-me-up. Sandy