Hats, Hats, and More Hats!
On Wednesday, May 5th, I had the great pleasure of attending the 28th annual Frederick Law Olmsted Awards Luncheon held in the Conservatory Garden of Central Park in New York City. As you may know, Frederick Law Olmsted, the famous American landscape designer and the father of American landscape architecture, designed many renowned urban parks, including the very magnificent Central Park. Hosted by The Women’s Committee of the Central Park Conservancy, this luncheon, commonly referred to as The Hat Luncheon, is always so much fun. The invitation states that hats are optional, but I think you will agree that most of these ladies take wearing hats very seriously. This year, a record number of ladies attended and the event raised more than $2,400,000, which will be used to help keep Central Park the glorious haven that it is. Please enjoy these photos and to view many others, click here.
1 Jane Heller, who sits on the Board of the Central Park Conservancy, took a table at the fund raising luncheon. She wore a Suzanne http://suzannemillinery.com/ hat and I wore a broad brimmed straw hat by Barbara Feinman. http://www.feinmanhats.com/
2 We had such a lovely lunch, which raised more than $2,400,000 dollars for restoration projects in the park.
3 Rory Tahari, wife of Elie Tahari, the famous designer, wore a fedora straw hat with one white rose - very chic.
5 This beautiful woman decorated her hat with black and white fabric butterflies - I do not know her name!
6 Susan Magrino, my publicist, wore her large black straw hat and a very ladylike blue dress - she looked great!
8 This young woman made her own hat. She told me that I did not blog her hat last year, so I vowed not to make the same mistake. Her hat was covered with hundreds of artificial flowers.
9 The big hat walked around a lot. Everyone was interested in it - its construction and the petite woman who made it.
15 Gerri Kyhill wore a man's fedora in black and white. She owns the S Factor gym in NYC - she has a very good figure.
19 Sharon Burdick came from Washington DC on the train to attend the luncheon. She, too, looked very appropriate.
21 Bryn Rose works closely with Jane in the private bank of Band of America. She wore a summer frock and a black and white hat.
22 Trinh Doan wore the same hat as last year - she talked about amortizing the expense - she would, after all - she is a banker, like Jane!
23 Joanne de Guardiola always wears incredible clothing. She is very tall, thin, and beautiful - sitting at her table was Harry Benson, a famous fashion photographer.







AMAZING! Are you sure you aren't modeling anymore for chanel? You should, because in picture #2, YOU LOOK AMAZING! Million dollar smile! Picture 24 is very nice! Reminds me of the ladies at the yacht club on marthas vinyard on a sunday mid morning! Uber sexy with white pearls!
Fantastic! http://www.meandmartha.net
Thanks again!
Dan Viger
Hollis center, Maine.
Posted by: Daniel Viger | May 10th, 2010 at 12:21 am
Wow! The hat with the artificial flowers is stunning! And I love the one with the live planting -- ingenious.
Posted by: Amanda | May 10th, 2010 at 12:42 am
Martha your hat is very becoming.
Posted by: Aussie gal | May 10th, 2010 at 1:53 am
Love your photos, your hat looks so elegant. I admire Rory Tahari, love her book Lists For Life so inspiring. Interesting Hat Luncheon!
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | May 10th, 2010 at 3:02 am
Martha, you look so cute with your hat.
^___^
Posted by: Mil | May 10th, 2010 at 4:18 am
My Fair Ladies! Reminds me of the scene from the musical. How wonderful so much money was raised!
Posted by: Celia | May 10th, 2010 at 5:48 am
How I miss your TV show and magazine since moving to China!!! I found a copy of MSL from November 2009 in a Shanghai bookstore last week.
Linda
Posted by: Linda Crispell | May 10th, 2010 at 7:09 am
Besides the hats....Pearls! Pearls!Big Pearls must be the fashion accessory for this season apparently. I love my matinee length pearls and wear them all the time but I may have to seek out a string of those big beautiful ones.
Posted by: Sue | May 10th, 2010 at 7:13 am
Martha, you look so lovely!
Posted by: Andrew Ritchie | May 10th, 2010 at 7:55 am
Hi Martha,
This hat is definitely your style - you look so attractive in it and Jane looks very stylish too! It is nice that all that money was raised to keep Central Park looking good. You, Jane and the rest of your friends really help do a lot for New York! Thanks for being our roving photographer and reporter again! Trish
Posted by: Trish | May 10th, 2010 at 9:19 am
Martha, it seems to me the men need to step up at this event. No begonia-laden boaters, no freesia-festooned fedoras, no petunia-plastered porkpies?! I'm glad to see the women of New York City showed up in style and did some serious fundraising for a great cause. My hat is off to you all.
Posted by: tom | tall clover farm | May 10th, 2010 at 10:31 am
Stunning! What are your skin care secrets Martha? Your skin is amazing
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Posted by: Jace | May 10th, 2010 at 11:39 am
What spectacular hats...great style and great that so much money was raised! My hats off to the ladies who make this happen!!
Posted by: sherey | May 10th, 2010 at 12:13 pm
Martha,
You look so pretty as did all the ladies at the luncheon.
Reminds me of the Kentucky Derby with all the millery fanfare!
I like the fake flowers hat!! Guess when you make it yourself, glue gun and all - it's fun to share!
Thank you for sharing and benefiting Central Park!
Paula M.
Posted by: Paula M. :) | May 10th, 2010 at 1:17 pm
I would like to know where your pink shirt you wore on the May 10th show came from. Very becoming.
Posted by: Karen | May 10th, 2010 at 2:21 pm
Dear Martha, I haven't written a fan letter for about 57 years (I'm 71). Have been an admirer for many years and wonder how you do all that you do. Today I am watching you butchering a pig (I quickly called my Dad, who at 97 yrs. young is a retired butcher and he tuned into "Martha" and was impressed with your butchering skills.)
Yours is a true "self-made" success story and an example to women everywhere. By the way, how do you look so good at your age? If you have had cosmetic surgery, it surely is the best I have ever seen.
Enough gushing -- keep doing your thing. Long live our generation.
Sincerely,
Loretta Tedesco
Posted by: Loretta Tedesco | May 10th, 2010 at 2:48 pm
WOW! I am blown away with your hat Martha! Stunning! The silk flower on your hat is just glorious! Hats are definitely making a huge comeback!
Posted by: Joy S | May 10th, 2010 at 3:39 pm
Martha you look so beautiful! I love your hat and so many of the others in your slideshow. What a fun day.
Posted by: Renee | May 10th, 2010 at 4:24 pm
Martha, you and Jane look sooooo lovely. My friends & I try on hats for fun and we have decided we must lose our eyeglasses and get contacts lenses in order to look as great as you two girlfriends!
Posted by: Sharon Weinmann | May 10th, 2010 at 6:17 pm
Hi Martha, OMG these photos of the Fredrick Law Olmsted Award Luncheon at the Conservatory Garden of Central Park in New York City are absolutely fantastic! Actually the first 2 of you and Jane Heller are stunning!! You both looked so beautiful and everyone looked great, also. I love being able to visit these special events through your superb photos. The photos from the New York Social Diary were pretty good,too. Thanks for taking my call on Sirius radio's 'Ask Martha' today. I am soaking the pressed wood on the back of the mirror, but it looks like it will take a while to remove it from the mirror. I will let you know if it works. Looking forward to seeing you butcher that pig on your TV Show at 2AM tonight. Heard lots of great comments on 'Ask Martha' today! Love, Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | May 10th, 2010 at 8:50 pm
Martha I loved your hat the best. You looked positively stunning in it. It's the best hat of the group because it simply adorns your face perfectly.
The one with the live plants in it is certainly unique.
Linda
Phila., PA
Posted by: Linda | May 12th, 2010 at 1:25 pm
Martha,
Your hat was utterly fantastic...! You go girl..!
Love your blogs...!
Keep up the good work, for us women. You are a treasure to all of us. In a man's world, you are kicking butt.
Posted by: Cindy | May 12th, 2010 at 5:27 pm
Love your hat~the color is perfect with your hair, skin and outfit~thanks for sharing with us.
Posted by: Cathybytheriver | May 12th, 2010 at 7:55 pm
I love reading your blog! I find something new and interesting every day. I'm working with my cable carrier to get your program because at present you aren't available on Shaw Cable in Canada and it's extremely annoying.
Posted by: Louise | May 12th, 2010 at 10:21 pm
they are fantastic... love it when women go all out and get creative beyond their shoes... and Martha you looked fantastic... the hat suits you!
Posted by: Punctuation Mark | May 12th, 2010 at 11:38 pm
Beautiful Martha!! You are bringing back the beauty that women used to put into social gatherings!! Keep it up Martha, and perhaps this generation of young women will perhaps tap in to it.
Posted by: Maisie Hughes | May 15th, 2010 at 8:00 pm
that looks like a lot of fun, I LOVE the pink flowers hat!!
Posted by: Melissa Cordstone | May 18th, 2010 at 3:57 pm
These hats rival anything Dr. Seuss ever concocted!
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I have an antique hat making MACHINE and some wide brimmed bonnets to prove it!
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Have you ever seen one of these beautiful sewing machines on your travels? It looks like a piece of fine furniture with a miniature sewing machine in the center!
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Posted by: Andrea Spencer | June 2nd, 2010 at 11:13 am