With the Melbourne Cup over for another year, the event is known to attract unique frocks, outfits and fascinators. But the glitz and glam isn’t resided for those in attendance.
This year, eleven fashionistas residing at TriCare’s Mt Gravatt Retirement Community participated in a Cup-inspired millinery workshop which saw them piece together some race day glam on Wednesday.
With a variety of hats, fascinator combs, and headbands to choose from each participant, aged between 74 and 93, got to stimulate their creativity, chat, share wine and sift through a multitude of colourful feathers, lace, and flowers.
“I’m wearing red and white, what do you think would go with that?” asked one participant.
“Those emerald green feathers will go perfectly with my outfit,” said another.
Eighty-seven-year-old Dawn Lilly knew from the get-go what she wanted to create.
“That black hat, that pink feather and that black lace around it, it’ll be perfect,” she said, glueing and pressing on embellishments.
The workshop was hosted by trained milliner Gina Shaw, who has been an avid hat maker and race enthusiast for many years. She said the group exceeded her expectations in the best possible way.
“It was so much fun to see their creative juices flowing. Most of them knew what they wanted to make and what outfit it would go with, which is often half the battle,” she said.
Mt Gravatt Assistant Village Manager Carmen Seaby said the residents were excited to take part in the workshop and very grateful for the time and materials donated to them.
“Everyone was so impressed by their handiwork that the team at Mt Gravatt has decided to have the ladies parade their creations in front of their fellow residents ahead of this year’s Cup luncheon,” she said.
The ladies were thrilled to show off their hats, telling staff “You have made some old ladies very happy.”
