Les chapeaux de l'Arc de Triomphe 2008

Rain and wind kept many racegoers from wearing unusual hats at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe festivities Sunday at Hippodrome de Longchamp, Paris.

I'm not sure why these two mademoiselles (at left)  were wearing hats with evening gowns - or why they were wearing evening gowns to the Arc, particularly in cool, rainy weather.

Notice the guys in the background, drinking and ignoring the girls. "Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes." - Henry David Thoreau.

"Hope is the thing with feathers..." - Emily Dickinson.

Black and white and a glass of champagne.

Fur-trimmed.
 

A profusion of flowers and feathers.

The hat tent at Longchamp, featuring hats for sale.

More from the hat tent.

 

The hat I bought in Antwerp, created by a Dutch designer. At right is the way I started out wearing it. The photo at left is an alternative look. By the time the Arc with its heavy winds were over, the hat had turned around like this!

My friend Di at Designers Block UK very kindly has posted a little piece here about the hat.

More photos from the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Wednesday.

Scroll down the page for another post today.