LA JOLLA LIVING 19 Opening day as cool as ever HATS AND MORE HATS THURSDAY · JULY 28, 2011
LA JOLLA VILLAGE NEWS
La Jolla’s most fashionable ring in opening day over lunch BY KAI OLIVER-KURTIN | VILLAGE NEWS The wearing of glamorous large hats on opening day of the Del Mar race season has long since been the tradition of fashionistas since the inaugural race in 1937. La Valencia Hotel in La Jolla Cove shared in this tradition on July 13 by hosting a fashion luncheon in anticipation of opening day at the racetrack on July 20. Guests enjoyed a threecourse meal and fashion shows from local hat vendors Greenpacha and Mo’s Bows & Chapeaux. The luncheon was the vision of Mary Soriano, who found herself at the La Valencia Hotel after attending the product launch for Greenpacha. Her idea of bringing two women with entrepreneurial spirits together in a historical venue to celebrate their fashions reaped victorious results. About 100 people were in attendance, with hat vendors donating a portion of their proceeds to a charitable organization or humanitarianism cause. Guests with the best hats were awarded prizes including two tickets to the Del Mar Turf Club on opening day, a gift card for La Valencia Hotel, and a gift certificate for clothing from designer Nina McLemore’s trunk show. “It’s been a tradition for me and my daughter, Amber, to attend opening day at Del Mar since she was a little girl,” said Mo Dunfee, owner and designer of Mo’s Bows & Chapeaux. Dunfee has enjoyed crafts and sewing for most of her life, but it wasn’t until a few months ago after being inspired by the royal wedding that she decided to create her own headwear company. Ten percent of Dunfee’s profits made during the fashion luncheon were donated to the Monarch School, a nonprofit supporting education for children impacted by homelessness, where she has been a volunteer for the last six years. Mo’s Bows and Chapeaux can be purchased at Jeremy at The Penthouse and Pebbles by the Beach. For more information, email moschapeaux@aol.com. Florencia Gomez Gerbi created Greenpacha after traveling to Latin America and visiting the weaving communities of Sigsig, Ecuador. She experienced the local weavers cut, boil and dry Toquilla straw, to create hats by hand-weaving them one at a time. Greenpacha, meaning “green times” in the Inca language, donates two per-
BY DIANA CAVAGNARO | VILLAGE NEWS a Designer Millinery Hat, Sally Thornton was Opening day at the Del Mar decked out in tangerine races, one of the largest fashion and Tenley Molzahn wore events of the year with a crowd a coral Sparkle & Fade that is dressed to impress, dress topped with a black cent of its sales attracted an all-time atten- chapeau. A new popular back to the dance record of 46,588. item was patent-leather weavers of Sigsig. Visitors arrived decked shoes, which could be seen Coco Paoloni out in their finery everywhere and looked so joined Gerbi to design a wearing spectacular chic. hat collection with Since the royal wedding chapeaux. opening day in there has been an exploEmma Zuckermind. Inspired man wore a beau- sion of fascinators. This by the sights tiful white Escada year, a plethora of racegoand sounds of La dress topped with ers opted for these small Jolla, Paoloni’s a Philip Treacy hat, hats including Alexis Bellipassion for which, it turns out, no, star of “The Real nature, travel were the same two design- Housewives of Orange and the ocean ers that Lee Goldberg County.” inspired the This year marked the 17th chose, who had bright colors selected her hat at a annual “One and Only Truly Fabuseen in her new private fashion show lous Hats Contest.” The contestants collection. in London with world vied for the Bing Crosby Grand Greenpacha famous hat designer Prize, which were two American hats can be purAirlines vouchers good for travel Philip Treacy. chased locally at One trend this year anywhere in the continental UnitSurf Diva, Sun is bright colors. Ginny ed States. All first-place winners Diego, Sigi’s Craig looked beautiful received $300 plus a gift certificate Boutique, Luelin Cobalt Blue from from the Village Hat Store. The la Boutique and head to toe wearing a most glamorous award went to JesDel Mar Hat Comchapeau from Del Mar sica Haldeman, while Mike Guthrie pany. For more inforHat Co., Lena Evans was took home the award for the funnimation, visit www.- San Diego Hat Co. handed out some complimentary hats on opening day of the sporting a canary yellow est hat and Haven Schneider the greenpacha.com. Del Mar races. Photo courtesy of San Diego Hat Co. Fendi dress topped with award for best flowers. The hat that The racetrack’s glamorous roots began in Hollywood with actor and singer Bing Crosby, who welcomed guests to the first race at his new horse palace by the ocean. He formed the original Turf Club with other Hollywood bigwigs, which ultimately became the place to see and been seen. The racetrack established itself as a playground for the stars, with personalities like Desi Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Mickey Rooney and Jimmy Durante flooding its gates. The racetrack became such a popular destination that soon the Santa Fe Railroad added a special train from Los Angeles to Del Mar. In addition to bettors, the train was also known to transport horses as last-minute race entrants, and its occasional late arrival would postpone the races’ starting times. Grandstand crowds cheered as the train came into view around the last turn before gliding into the station.
A sleek red and black hat from Green Pacha is perfect for the Del Mar races. The hats can be purchased at several La Jolla boutiques, including Surf Diva and Sigi’s Boutique. Courtesy photo
Lee Goldberg, left, and Emma Zuckerman show off their opening day fashion, both wearing items from the same designers. Diana Cavagnaro | Village News
won for the best racing theme as well as the grand prize belonged to Katy Stockinger. The 74th Meeting of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Racing Season will run until Sept. 7. The muchanticipated $1 Million TVG Pacific Classic will be on August 28. For race information call (858) 7551141.