Home-made hat tops competition at Epsom Derby (From Epsom Guardian)

Home-made hat wins style on the downs competition at Epsom Derby

7:20am Tuesday 7th June 2011 in 2012 Investec Derby Festival By Lauren May, Chief Reporter

A woman who bought her dress on Ebay and made her own hat won the top prize for style at Ladies’ Day on Friday.

The Investec Derby Festival got off to a flying start as the sun shone for Ladies' Day and the Investec Oaks and Coronation cup races.

Thousands turned up to soak up the atmosphere dressed in their summer best in the hope of winning the Style on the Downs competition.

The face of the festival, British supermodel Erin O’Connor, judged the competition along with milliner Louis Mariette and designer Felicity Brown. Any lady wearing a hat or fascinator was eligible to enter but only one could be crowed the best dressed taking home a luxury spa break for two in London, £1,000 to spend in online boutique Question Air and a chauffeur driven lunch for two at the Savoy’s river restaurant.

The judges eventually chose Mimi Theobald as their winner who was dressed in a 1950s sunshine yellow vintage dress bought from Ebay and a hat she made herself.

Erin O’Connor said: “Mimi’s outfit was bold and sharp but at the same time effortless and so perfect for the award.”

On the track Dancing Rain took the Investec Oaks Cup, ridden by Jonny Murtagh while St Nicholas Abbey, ridden by last year's Derby winner Ryan Moore, took first place in the Coronation Cup.