Six spring racing outfits that won’t break the budget

DESIGNER millinery isn’t just the rich and the famous with handcrafted masterpieces available for hire. PLUS here are six looks for less than $170 each.

$52 budget racing look

DESIGNER millinery doesn’t have to be donned by just the rich and the famous.

Leading Melbourne milliners are making their handcrafted masterpieces available to every woman through their hire businesses.

Kerrie Stanley and Carla Murley, who have made headpieces for celebrities including Jen

Hawkins, Rebecca Judd, Nicole Kidman and Melanie Vallejo, are two milliners leading the charge.

Look 1: Cotton On dress $29.95, Rubi heels $39.95, Rubi sunglasses $14.95, Rubi boater hat $24.95, total $109.80 Picture: Tim Carrafa

Look 2: Target dress $59, headpiece $25, shoes $40, bag $25, total $149

Stanley’s Designer Hat Hire business has 65 pieces currently available, featuring her whimsical, sculptural and directional designs.

“I created Designer Hat Hire when I realised that after the races I carried a lot of beautiful stock from dressing celebrities, ambassadors and on air talent. I also saw the opportunity to make designer millinery accessible to everyone,” she says.

“It’s definitely gaining momentum with every new client commenting on how it’s such a great concept.”

Look 3: Kmart dress $17, headpiece $5, shoes $20, bag $10, total $52

Look 4 - Dress: Tiger Mist, $69.95; shoes: Forever New, $59.99; lace crown: Forever New, $29.99. Total: $159.93

Murley, of Murley & Co, has 130 headpieces in the hire range with a view to extend this to 300 in the future.

“It is much more acceptable in 2015 to be hiring your millinery and to be talking about hiring your millinery. When you can hire your shoes bags and dresses why wouldn’t you hire your headpiece?,” she says.

Look 5: Tokito dress $79.95, Miss Shop headpiece $19.95, Miss Shop shoes $69.95 all from Myer, total $169.85

Look 6: Ally Fashion dress $39.99, Forever New clutch $39.99, Harris Scarfe headpiece $39.95, Rubi heels $20, total $139.93

“Last year 50 per cent of my business was from hiring and the other half was split custom orders and ready to wear.”

Prices range from $60 to $130 dollars to hire a headpiece, with most averaging around $85-$95.

Both hire businesses have their ranges online, but during the busy spring racing carnival pieces need to be collected from the respective studios. Stanley offers a CBD delivery service.

Originally published as Six spring racing outfits that won’t break the budget