Mad hatter’s party

Right on the heels of Sarah Jessica Parker’s centerpiece-topped ensemble for the Sex and the City London premiere comes YStyle’s timely ode to the hat. Whether perched loftily over a shellacked coif or smushed over messy unwashed hair, hats make a strong sartorial statement no matter the context. Sarah Jessica’s floral fascinator by Philip Treacy drew equal parts admiration (more than a few fashion bloggers called it fierce) and scorn (the other blogging half called it a tranny mess), almost completely overshadowing her Alexander McQueen frock.

Despite its status as a lost art, two young designers are making their way in the world of millinery. Mich Dulce, whose clothes hark to Vivienne Westwood and the body-conscious movement, and Krista Nogueras, a fine arts major, are churning out hats for the sartorially adventurous. “I design for clients who are appreciative of the eccentric world,” says Nogueras.

“Manila has the perfect weather for hats,” says Mich Dulce. “And people seem to be more open to it now. I get a lot of clients who buy them for events.”

What does one wear with a hat? Not every girl needs to be armed with a platinum credit card and access to designer labels. “Anything goes, but obviously nothing over the top if you don’t want to look like a Christmas tree!” says Dulce. “A hat is meant to spruce up your outfit. New hat wearers tend to stick with solid colored dresses, but anything that isn’t too frou-frou on top will work.” 

“People don’t have to wear massive hats anyway,” she adds. “They can just wear small fascinators. Think of it as an exaggerated headband!”

Krista Nogueras

School rules: With a background in the arts, Nogueras, an incoming senior at UP taking up fine arts with a major in visual communication, was originally inspired by Gustav Klimt.

First time’s the charm: “It all happened in a flash,” says Nogueras. “I started making hats late last year.” Her first experiments in hatmaking were for her good friend, designer Geoff Gonzalez.

Head games: Her headpieces are marked by a kooky playfulness. Fake fur, gold chains and other equally disparate elements can make an appearance on a single piece.

Contact: 0921-3589131

Mich Dulce

Milliner major: Dulce, who trained under the assistant of Philip Treacy, studied theatrical millinery at Central Saint Martins. Her headpieces are “flamboyant with vintage references.”

Hats off: “Ever since I was a teenager I always liked hats, although in the ‘90s they were baduy hats — like the kind that was floppy then pinned back with a sunflower. Baduy talaga. Think Beverly Hills 90210 Jennie Garth,” she laughs. “But when we would go on trips abroad I would always buy a hat in a weird shape in every country.

“The first hat I was really proud to own was a vintage veiled pillbox purchased in a vintage store in the UK.”

Hat couture: Dulce considers her style to be “whimsical but with a strong foundation in traditional millinery techniques.” She adds, “I try to be as adventurous as I can with shapes and materials but I still use traditional blocking methods.”

“Hats are a lot like sculpture — it’s great to see things as they take their 3D shape. It’s a lot harder than people think it is, especially when molded and blocked. To do it properly and clean it by hand is a really tedious process.”

Top gear: Celebrities like Ruffa Guttierez, Gretchen Barretto, Rufa Mae Quinto, writer Gilda Cordero Fernando, politicians, socialites, musicians, fashionistas, debutants and prom princesses have all worn Dulce’s flamboyant topper. Her dream clients include “Bjork! Vivienne Westwood! Agyness Deyn! Isabella Blow, but she’s dead.”

Contact: 0917-8951743/ www.michdulce.com