Shining silver trophies, lemon sticks, the carriage pleasue drive, souvenirs in that special shade of Devon blue–all are part of what makes Devon more than just a high-end horse show. But it’s the Ladies Day hat contest that captures a highly visible sense of festivity, with a promenade of festive headgear that’s always worth a second look.
Feathers are abundant among so many creative ways to make a statement, along with cheeky fascinators perched on artfully created hairdos and lavish straw creations that provide shade for the wearer.
Sometimes the headpiece comes with an outfit, like the Gilded Age-inspired walking suit with matching hat worn by Christina Wilson, designed and produced by Sandy Boyd from nearby Newtown Square, Pa. The two are no strangers to the contest, having competed there before.
Christina Wilson is straight out of the Gilded Age at Devon with a Sandy Boyd-designed outfit. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
Pamela Bastings was inspired by a trip to Versailles and a parasol she bought there in her “frocks and feathers” theme, adding a model horse with a Devon blue ribbbon to the hat.
Pamela Bastings with her Versailles inspired creation. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
A group of 11 entered the contest en masse with the theme “Ladies of Devon supporting Ladies of Ukraine.”
Joy Mossholder Sporn, decked out in an elaborately feathered headpiece, said the Devon residents entered the contest as a group in 2019, the last time Devon was held before Covid.This year, they decided to go with a cause and “elevate the ladies of Ukraine.”
Joy Mossholder Sporn supporting Ladies of Ukraine with feathers in the colors of that country’s flag. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
The group wore blue and their hats reflected the yellow and blue colors of the Ukraine flag.
Joy has several links to Ukraine, including her milliner, Andrey at Valley Forge Flowers, who is a native of the country. The group bought hats from Ukraine through another milliner, but “unfortunately, because of the trouble getting parcels out of Ukraine, they did not arrive in time,” Joy said.
Even so, the group felt it made a contribution, Joy said, “because we paid for a product and supported these women who are worthy, that’s what matters.”