Choosing a Hat for the Races

A headpiece is the crowning glory of your Galway Races outfit and the right hat is just as important as your dress as it can make or break an outfit. As sponsors of the official Best Dressed Lady and Best Hat competitions (#gHotelBestDressed) at the Galway Races as well as hosting our own Best Hat (#gBestHat) event at the g Hotel & Spa as part of our Ladies Day After Party, we have researched all of the expert advice on choosing a hat for the races.

Choosing a hat should be a pleasure. There are no hard and fast rules, only guidelines to help and assist. Show your personality and choose something comfortable that you love. Experiment until you find the hat you like best and makes you feel fabulous – you are worth it!

A day at the Races and in particular Ladies Day at the Galway Races is one of the few occasions where we have an opportunity to be daring and express our personality. Make a statement at this year’s Galway Races and turn to one of Ireland’s leading milliners by choosing one of their beautiful creations whether sleek & refined or show stopping & bold. If you have chosen your outfit but are still looking for the perfect hat, bring your dress with you and most milliners can match a piece or create a sensational contrast for stand out appeal.

Matching your hat to your figure

It is important to your physical features into account when choosing a hat. Your height and shoulder width is the best guide for dictating the brim width of your hat. Generally the taller you are, the wider the brim you can carry off. Here are some hints that subtly alter proportions.

A petite woman may be best with a smaller hat to keep your look in proportion and should you have a very ornate headpiece, many stylists suggest an understated dress to showcase the hat. Try to avoid hiding your neck if possible as this can take from your height.

A tall woman could opt for a wider brim ensuring you take shoulder width into consideration to maintain balance. Wide brims also look well on fuller figured fashionistas and ladies wearing wider skirts.

Choosing a hat to suit your Face Shape

It is very important to choose a hat or headpiece that works for your face shape.

Round face – More structured or square styles usually suit round faces best. Ladies with rounder faces may consider adding height to your crown to elongate your face and a small brim can also add to the effect.  Cloche inspired hats look great and it can be fun to play with slants.

Heart face – A tilted style headpiece can really compliment and highlight your cheeks and distinct a jawline. If you have a very petite face, avoid being overpowered by a large heavy looking crown.

Square face – With defined features and stronger bone structure than other face shapes, ladies with square faces tend to look great in rounder styles so opt for a hat with softer lines. Narrow crowns can be unflattering unless they are balanced by a trim that gives it both softness and width. Asymmetrical silhouettes look well.

Oval or Long Face – Avoid hats with tall crowns and this will only further elongate your visage. A wider brim will balance an oval or long face but remember to use your shoulder width as a guide or you may overbalance!

Some Interesting tips from the Horse & Hound Magazine

• Traditionally ladies hats are worn down to the right and up to the left. This means that most small hats sit on the right hand side of the head.
• In general it is more flattering to have your hair parting hidden beneath the hat.
• If you are wearing a bold print or lace dress, avoid wearing a hat with an elaborate or fussy trim.
• If you want to make a statement with your hat, pair it with a simple outfit.
• Avoid matching your hat, bag and shoes as it will cut your silhouette in too many places.
• Make sure your hat feels secure and comfortable so that you will not have to re-adjust it during the occasion.

For more information on the Ladies Day Best Dressed Events please see the g Hotel & Spa website - official sponsors of the Best Dressed Lady and Best Hat competitions at the Galway Races. Also hosts of a Best Hat with Philip Treacy Prize and Most Stylish Man competition during the Après Racing Party which kicks off at 7pm on Thursday 28th July 2016.

Hats featured in this blog post are from from Carol Kennelly, Aoife Kirwan and Edel Ramberg.

the g Hotel & Spa sponsor Best Dressed Lady at the 2016 Galway Races

Ladies Day at the Galway Races Summer Festival takes place on Thursday 28th July and we are inviting you to ‘Strike a Pose’ as part of our new sponsorship of the Best Dressed Lady Competition - an institution of the Irish Summer Social Calendar.

Designed by Philip Treacy, our  partnership with the Galway Races is a fashionista match made in heaven. Start planning your outfit, book your tickets, secure your hotel and join us for the most stylish Galway Races Ladies Day yet! Prize value of €10,000 for the worthy winner of the #gHotelBestDressed Lady and €2,000 prize for the Best Hat winner. This is all in addition to the week long program of events held at the g Hotel during the Galway Races. From live music each night to Bubbly Tipster Brunch, the annual g Best Hat event with coveted Philip Treacy prize, Most Stylish Man with €1,000 Strellson suit from Hanleys Menswear and the Fabulous Friday line up which includes dance floor masters Spring Break 80's!

Ladies Day at the Galway Races is the hottest day in Irish racing with the ‘Galway Guinness Hurdle Handicap’ acknowledged as the richest National Hunt race in Ireland awarding a show stopping prize fund of €300,000. As thousands turn out to see this coveted prize contested on the field, the designer creations and millinery masterpieces are on centre stage in the enclosure. Ladies Day at the Galway Races is a national institution, a highlight of the social and fashion calendar. Elegantly dressed ladies with fabulous hats and head pieces are accompanied by friends and family in tailored suits or casual smarts. A kaleidoscope of colour and style throngs the enclosure at Ballybrit as the gorgeous ladies vie for the title of g Hotel& Spa Best Dressed Lady.

The eagerly anticipated competition will be one of the highlights of the Guinness Galway Hurdle Day taking place on Thursday 28th July 2016. CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS FOR LADIES DAY

For more information or to book your Galway Races Accommodation Packages CLICK HERE or call our g team on 091 865200.

Spring Break 80s Band to play Live at the g for the Galway Races

Europe’s premier 1980’s super band ‘Spring Break’ to play Live at the g for the Galway Races  - the amazing 1980’s tribute band will be rocking the g Hotel on Ladies Day Thursday 30th July as part of our daily après racing event programme. Spring Break will co-inside with the g Hotel’s glamourous Ladies Day Best Hat and the Most Stylish Man events.

The hugely popular Spring Break is a seven-piece act, renowned in Ireland and all over Europe for their lively sell out shows. Their

repertoire filled with 80's power songs are spectacular. Based in Dublin, this group have performed over hundreds of shows throughout the country and abroad since they set out in 2005. They are a fantastic party band specialising in all things 80's and only ever appear in character. Their vibe is electric and the best friend a good time eve had!

Throughout the Galway Races Summer Festival, running from Monday 27th July to Sunday 2nd August, the g hotel & spa have scheduled a full programme of entertainment. Pop into the g race week for a casual bite to eat in one of the Signature Lounges or book a table in the award winning Restaurant gigi’s.  A special menu of tempting race week cocktails promises to be a winner with guests and gigi's have complimenatay prosecco for guests that book on Monday, Tuesday or Friday of raceweek. Experience the pre and post race week social hub of the Galway Races Summer Festival at the five star g Hotel.

For further details on the g Hotel’s Race Week social programme of events visit http://www.theghotel.ie/galway_races.html  email info@theg.ie or call (091) 865200.

Galway - City of Festivals

Galway is Ireland's third largest city but it has the heart of a village and at this time of year, our heats are bursting with pride at the amazing array of events and festivals that bring so many visitors to our winding streets.

It all starts with St Patrick's Day in March and the community festival which has grown in size and creativity Cúirt Festival of Literature celebrating the written word in all its forms. The poetry readings are a special favourite as are the fun 'pencil scultpures' that pop up around the city and the inviting book shelves fixed on Tigh Neachtains. June brings the Galway Sessions with visiting musicans from Stirling joining forces with local Irish musicians and singers to create a harmonious collaboration of celtic music in a wide variety of traditional venues throughout the city, all organised by the owners of The Crane - a Galway venue renowned for its nightly sessions and impromtu gigis.
over the years to April and the

July has a festival for every week (almost!) and the 2nd week welcome film makers, producers, aspiring writers and many actors from accross the country as well as overseas to network, showcase new films and in many cases, the more experienced teach the new and upcoming in workshops held during the week of the Galway Film Fleadh. The inimitable Galway International Arts Festival takes center stag in mid July. This year the 36^th edition added the title ‘International’ highlighting the variety of cultural treats brimming from the festival line-up. FOr these two weeks, Galway becomes a creative collision of artists, musicians, actors, writers, performers, friends and fans at the edge of Europe. Visitors enjoy vibrant Galway at its best cand can overnight stay at the g hotel , a long with three course dinner in Restaurant gigi’s and full Irish breakfast the following morning from €111 per person sharing. 

The Galway Races Summer Festival takes place over the last 
week of July and for many, is the highlight of the summer social calendar! At the g we are delighted to have a superb line up with our Best Hat Competition and Philip Treacy prize on Ladies Day, Tipster Breakfasts on Thursday & Friday with racing personalities Davy Russell and Jim Culloty plus live entertainment every night from a score of talented musicians including The Piano Man - Sean de Burca, Jazz Vocalists Keith McDonald & Mike Corbett and the amazing 10 piece Papazitas as well as late night beats from our resident DJ.

Full Galway Race Week Schedule.

If you can make it to Galway, soak up the exhilarating atmosphere of the Galway Races at the g hotel, enjoying a two night stay with full Irish breakfast each morning from €220 per person sharing.