Among the traditions of the Monte-Carlo Polo Cup, one has always attracted as much attention as the matches: the ladies’ hat parade, an iconic runway reminiscent of the glamour of the great English horse races.
A tradition of the tournament
At the Monte-Carlo Polo Cup the hat contest takes place on the last day of the tournament, before the trophy ceremony. In 2014 its theme was “Summer Flowers”; in 2015 the Ladies Hat Contest was judged by a jury chaired by the Monegasque Chamber of Fashion.
Choosing the hat
- The Panama is the classic of summer matches: light, elegant, it goes with linen and with day dresses.
- The wide-brimmed straw hat protects from the sun of the Riviera and frames the face.
- The fascinator suits slim silhouettes and evening ensembles.
- For the contest, the hat can be bold: flowers, feathers, sculptural shapes, a theme announced by the organisers.
A few rules
Choose the hat with the outfit, not after it; avoid brims so wide that they hide the view of the field from those behind you; keep a pin to hold it in the wind of the sea. And remember that the hat stays on until the prize-giving.
The Panama of the Maison
The Panama of the collection, with a navy grosgrain ribbon and the pin of the crest, is a tribute to the ladies’ hat parade of the Monte-Carlo Polo Cup.