What I Wore: Annual "Wear a Hat Day" in aid of Brain Tumour Research!
Tuesday, April 09, 2013
On the 28th March, I donned my hat for the annual "Wear a Hat Day" in aid of Brain Tumour Research!
I for one love the difference a hat can make to an ensemble and ‘Wear a Hat Day’ is a fun way of increasing awareness as well as getting people to raise money for an often overlooked form of cancer! As the Director of Brain Tumour Research, Sue Farrington-Smith comments: “Brain Tumour Research receives less than 1% of national cancer research spending in the UK yet this deadly disease kills more children and people under the age of 40 than any other cancer”. Thus making it vital to increase both funding and awareness of this type of cancer!!
As part of "Wear a Hat Day" Hatwalk (a catwalk show dedicated to millinery) also took place on the day featuring the very best in Irish millinery talent! Unfortunately I was unable to make the trip to Londonderry~Derry to support this fantastic event, However I did want to show my support in my own small (and unique) way!!
I am a girl who loves her hats.......from fascinator's to mini top hats.......wooly and fur hats, I have a large collection which I have amassed over the years! From Ladies Day at Down Royal to weddings of friends and family, nothing gives me greater pleasure than wearing a hat! Eternally glam, I loved the idea of wearing a hat to help raise awareness of this extremely important cause!!
As charity patron and celebrity Milliner Philip Treacy puts it: “Fashion is a feeling and a mood and therefore how better to express your passion and commitment to a subject such as brain tumour research than by wearing a fantastic hat? It immediately creates a statement and it doesn't matter what the hat is or how much it costs; you will feel a million dollars in it, whilst also raising much needed research funds and awareness."
So which hat did I opt for I hear you ask?? Well on the actual day I awoke to snow as far as the eye could see, so what better than to wear than my cossack faux fur hat!! Adding instant glamour as well as some much needed warmth to my ensemble, I paired it with a stunning waterfall style, blanket stripe merino knit cardigan (KP150) from Karen Millen!! In shades of cream, biscuit and caramel, the stripe design toned in perfectly with the varying shades of brown in my faux fur hat!
Underneath I wore my Karen Millen charcoal polo-neck wool jumper (KK150), another superfine knit, it was the perfect top to layer my cardigan with as it didn't add bulk to my frame, and kept me toasty warm due to it's high wool content! Accessory wise I wanted to keep my hat the vocal point of the ensemble, but I couldn't help but add my favourite cuff of the moment, my very Ltd. Edition buckle cuff from Karen Millen!
As the cardigan is somewhat unstructured, I kept my bottom half sleek and simple with a pair of leggings from Zara and a pair of high heeled hiking boots from Dune!! Seriously if there was ever one thing I'm glad I invested in, it was these boots!! As someone who NEVER EVER EVER wears flat shoes, I find it impossible to walk in flats during the rare occurrences I need to wear practical footwear! I picked up these boots a few years ago and they've been fantastic! Practical with good grip, yet I'm still able to wear my high heels, the perfect compromise!! Yey!!!
Vintage faux fur cossack hat (not KM), Blanket stripe merino knit (KP150), Knitted polo-neck jumper (KK150), Buckle cuff (ZQ014 - Ltd Edition not available to purchase) all from Karen Millen, black leggings with side zip detail from Zara & "Taurus" high heeled hiking style boot from Dune.
I must admit I never imagined I'd be braving the snow in March, but hopefully I did it in style and all for a good cause!!
Brain Tumour Research comprises of 18 member charities who have united together: including Northern Irelands Brainwaves. In 2011 these charities jointly raised over £2 million with funds raised being allocated to provide support and research at existing UK & Irish centres where brain tumour research is already being carried out.
For further information on Brain Tumour Research go to www.braintumourresearch.org.
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