The hats worn to Act VII of Women with Hattitude ranged from one as utilitarian as a team logo cap to others as delicious as Vickie Dow’s voluminous pink confection adorned with a huge white marabou plume and a ring of satin roses.
Some were vintage, lovingly handed down from one generation to the next. Others were fresh off the racks at the Cherry Creek North boutiques Mariel and Go Go Chapeaux. Still others were the product of a clever idea, a trip to Hobby Lobby and a glue gun.
There were several fabulous fascinators, a slew of straw bonnets and a profusion of posies blooming on crowns and brims of every hue.
Which brought this observation from Marie Belew Wheatley, executive director of Colorado Ballet: “Hattitude isn’t just a luncheon, it’s an art show.”
Wheatley was one of the 600-plus who were at Seawell Grand Ballroom on May 3 for the event that has grown to become Denver’s equal of opening day at Ascot or the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. It’s a benefit for the , and has raised $750,000 since its start.
The Women’s Voices Fund is an endowment that supports the commissioning, development and production of new plays by women and the hiring of more women as lead artists at the .
Women with Hattitude, says DCTC artistic director Kent Thompson, is the perfect fundraising vehicle because of the “theatricality” it involves. “And I do appreciate that,” he said.
An anonymous panel of judges circulated during the pre-lunch social, handing colored poker chips to those whose chapeaux were outstanding. Then, after a program featuring playwright Karen Zacarias, who is adapting Denver author Helen Thorpe’s novel “Just Like Us” for the stage, and excerpts from current Denver Center productions “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” and “Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash,” the recipients of the chips walked the runway as the judges completed their deliberations.
Prizes went to Aubrione Albright for Easy Elegance; Jessika Aerni, Wild Whimsical; Cynthia Treadwell, High Society; Georgia Akey, Fabulous Floral; Marsha Blum, Spring Sensation; and Sandee Walling, Sunday Best.
Women with Hattitude was chaired by Dana Berry, Jada Roberts, Lois Paul and Loretta Robinson. KYGO personality Kelly Ford was mistress of ceremonies.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also, blogs.denverpost.com/style and @GetItWrite on Twitter
More Hattitude photos at denverpost.com/photos90
