Spring Racing Fashions - Bree Laughlin
Bree Laughlin, Gai Waterhouse and the Caulfield Cup
She loves tilting her hats and had that one amazing super-favorite dress when she was a girl!During the 2010 Spring Racing Carnival, Bree Laughlin traveled the state hosting various Fashions on the Field events and appeared on TVN’s popular program, Two Cups and a Plate. She was selected as the Face of Caulfield in 2011.With the racing season for 2012 at Saratoga Racecourse behind us, I wanted to get to know my fellow racing fashion fans in Australia - this is the fourth interview in a series. Can you share a story about the first time you wore a hat?
Growing up I wore hats all the time, mainly for sport though. I remember a girl band called ‘Girlfriend’ and they wore brimmed hats you would fold up at the front - very fashionable at the time! My best friends and I all had one at some stage! I certainly had a favourite dress though, a number of favourite dresses in fact growing up. One particular dress, my party dress, I was given by an Aunt around the age of 5 and my Mum had to hide it I loved it so much! It was a typical dress for a girl of that age to love... pink with a frilled layer bottom and a white sash with a bow on the side. It’s funny the things you remember!
Were there any men or women in your family that wore hats?
I come from a golfing family and so a number of the Laughlin Gentlemen all wore golf caps but nobody in my family really inspired me by example. Where I am originally from in Northern Victoria it becomes very hot in summer so hats were wore more so for purpose as opposed to being a fashion accessory.
How does wearing a hat make you feel?
"A hat can make my ensemble feel complete"
I love wearing hats, particularly those racing related. If correctly fitted a hat really frames a person’s face and can accentuate their features beautifully. Depending on the occasion for me a hat can make my ensemble feel complete. Casually I find hats a really funky way to either dress up or relax an outfit and these days we probably don’t consider a hat enough to accessorize. I have loads of handbags/clutches, shoes, scarves and jewellery but comparatively, when I think about it, no where near enough hats!
Bree Laughlin
Do you have any traditions or rituals around choosing or putting on a hat with an outfit for a special event?
"The tilt of a hat is crucial
to the portrayal and personality of the hat"
When it comes to putting on a hat - it is the last item I address. The tilt of a hat is crucial to the portrayal and personality of the hat and you. I am very fussy when it comes to those small details.
When selecting a hat to go with a particular outfit I usually have an overall vision of the look. Whether I hunt for the hat in the look or have it made, I always have a visual. At times though, this can be to my detriment because I am so determined to achieve that particular look, I won't settle for anything less... a tiring personality trait I can tell you ;)!
Do you have any favorite milliners? What are some of your go-to clothing brands when it comes to racing fashions?
This is a tough question! I have a number of favourite milliners all for different reasons. Jill Humphries from
Jill & JackMillinery is an incredible talent an I have worn a number of Jill’s pieces this Spring. Her leather work is incredible and I love her sculpting.
Kerrie Stanley is another I love, again for her clever use of shapes. I am not a great wearer of floral so lean towards sculpted pieces. Other millinery I enjoy include works from
Phillip Treacy,
Richard Nylon,
Jonathan Howard and
Phillip Rhodes. Not all of which I could wear, but certainly admire.
I like to try different things with my race wear so tend to wear various labels and not lean towards one particular brand. This year I have worn Willow, Josh Goot and Mossman. Others I like include Arthur Galan, Ginger & Smart, Romance was Born and Marc Jacobs. Carla Zampatti always does lovely race wear as well, suitable for a number of ages and I am big fan of Colette Dinnigan’s work - love her collections this season! Relatively new is Yeojin Bae’s label YB J’AIME which is another that has some really beautiful pieces for racing this year - simple, feminine and understated.
Bree Laughlin
Can you share some tips and advice on how to get a racing outfit to "flow" from the hat to the clothes and accessories, to the shoes?
"Balance is a very important element to my race wear"
I am very much a visual person when it comes to fashion and imagine what works and what doesn’t. Balance is a very important element to my race wear. Whether it be the width of a brim on a hat to an outfit or the intensity or frequency of colours in an outfit, that is an important element for me. I am also big on shape flow. So if the theme through the outfit is rounded or flowing, I am unlikely to team it with angled millinery. To me, certain hat styles do work better with certain outfits and that for me is influenced by history, eras and icons. But there is no doubt, it is always fun to try and come up with something unique, that’s part of the challenge!
What is your favorite part of visiting your local racetrack?
"A relaxing day out"
I have two ‘local’ racetracks now, both Kerang and Caulfield.
The Kerang Turf Club is about 300km north of Melbourne and I head to the races there at least once a year. My favourite part of the races in Kerang is catching up with friends and family that I haven’t seen for some time and relaxing. The Fashion is largely relaxed and the whole feel is a low key afternoon out.
Caulfield for me isn’t a great deal different. Some may think that odd but there you are still very close to the action and I always run into friends and have a relaxing day out. The main difference between the two I guess is in the competition - both fashions and on the track.
Follow Bree in Twitter at
@Bree_Laughlin and visit her website at
www.breelaughlin.com The other ladies of Australian Racing Fashion I have interviewed include Kirilly Parry, Kelly Bannister and Penny Holloway.
Last but not least, for my fellow Americans, here is a video from the band Bree mentioned - Girlfriend: http://youtu.be/lIZSpekNMlw
Know a lady who loves to wear hats?
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Want to feel inspired to wear hats?
