Del Mar Thoroughbred Club began its 80th year of racing on Wednesday, July 17, to a crowd of around 31,276. The featured race was the Runhappy Oceanside Stakes won by Jasikan from Ireland. Every year, this most anticipated day brings a crowd to see horses, hats, and fashion. It is the biggest fashion show of the year with attendees coming dressed to the nines and eager to be seen. Valerie Cooper looked gorgeous in a red Valentino with a fascinator from Australian designer Grace Millinery. Emma Zuckerman was wearing a Roland Mouret and topped it off with a Philip Treacy chapeau. Lee Goldberg and Dorothy Zizzl also wore fascinators by Philip Treacy. Cindy Minton chose to wear a Carol Bader design, M.J. Wittman wore a Diana Cavagnaro fascinator, Jenny Craig wore a hat from Fleur De Paris in New Orleans, and Daran Grim wore a bright yellow hat from LA designer Linda Hong. This year, there were so many better-dressed men. I especially liked the Alexander McQueen jacket, shirt, and tie with butterflies worn by Harry Cooper. Jeremy Batter wore a Stetson hat and Charles Moore a hat from American Hat Co. This was the 25th annual Opening Day Hats Contest. There were 300 contestants who vied for $6,000 in cash and prizes. The categories included Most Glamorous, Best Fascinator, Best Flowers, Best Racing Theme and Most Outrageous. This year, Allison Karlstrand, of Capistrano Beach, won the Best Flowers category wearing a headpiece with a large oversized flower by Arturo Rios. She was also the Grand Prize winner, taking home a Fairmont Grand Del Mar one-night stay and dinner for two at Addison restaurant, a $300 cash prize, two tickets to the official Opening Day After Pony Party at Rancho Valencia Resort and Spa, and a Studio Savvy Salon gift basket of $500, for a grand total of more than $2,000 in prizes. Paige Fohl, of San Juan Capistrano, won the Best Fascinator with a hot-pink flamingo headpiece and a dress to match. She finished off the ensemble with a hot-pink parasol. Belinda Barry of Walnut Creek won the category of Most Outrageous. Barry was wearing a hatbox on her head and the creation was titled “Thinking Outside the Box.” The Best Racing Theme was an amazing creation by Christina Stutz that was a reproduction the old Don Diego Clock Tower. She meticulously made each one of the small tiles and added an actual clock that kept time. Aubrey Fohl, of San Juan Capistrano, won the category for the Most Glamorous wearing a golden laurel leaf fascinator. L’Auberge held their 11th Opening Day After-Party with a pop-up shop for two days before the races and on race day. The pop-up shop included Christine A. Moore Millinery, Lourdes Chavez Couture, Élevée Custom Menswear and new for 2019, a live curated painting by a Kaaboo Del Mar Festival artist. This year, there was an official Opening Day After Pony Party at Rancho Valencia Resort and Spa. The current racing season runs through Sept. 2. For more information, visit dmtc.com. Upcoming Events Friday-Saturday, July 26-27 – The 10th annual La Jolla International Fashion Film Festival at The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave. The is the Cannes of the fashion film world. For more information, visit LJIFFF.com.
Saturday, Aug. 10 – ‘Dreaming of Style’ 42nd Haute with Heart Fashion Show and Luncheon to benefit St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront.
For tickets, visit https://stmsc.org/center-events/register-for-haute-with-heart-fashion-show/. Diana Cavagnaro is an internationally renowned couture milliner based in the Historic Gaslamp Quarter. Learn more about our hat designer, teacher and blogger at DianaCavagnaro.com.
