Millinery Magic

Getting out of the shop and visiting locals is a rare pleasure and an opportunity never turned down.  Boy, we have some talented girls in this town and one of these very clever young ladies  is Jaclyn McDonald from Show Poni Millinery. Jaclyn is one those special Townsville gems quietly working away making race outfit dreams come true. Jaclyn invited me along to her fabulous shoot to see the magic behind the scenes.

Getting to know Jaclyn:
Growing up along the south coast of NSW on acreage near Milton, Jaclyn was bred from racing royalty, her father an avid thoroughbred breeder and racer, set Jaclyn on her creative path in designing hats and fascinators for the racing season. The racing circuit was her introduction but Jaclyn also owned horses, decorating and styling them before gymkhanas “beautifying” as Jaclyn describes it.  Horses with sewn rosettes, braided tail and forelock, even applying horse make up (yes I am not kidding) painting hooves with black paint for nail polish and hand making gorgeous origami ribbon and pinwheel brow bands complete with diamantes.

Jaclyn was 16 years old and keenly attending race events where she found amazing inspiration in fashions of the field.  Jaclyn says “I often looked at my fascinators which I borrowed from my mum and think, I can make something so much better than this” Millinery was a natural progression for Jaclyn and through a lot of research, her love of fashion, creativity and seeing a gap in the market for affordable original headwear, encouraged her to create Show Poni.

Self taught but eager to gain more experience Jaclyn attended several Millinery workshops, conventions and training courses with prestigious and well known Milliners from all over the world.  “My favourite Milliner is Richard Nylon from Melbourne who is also self taught”. Now an established Milliner her self, Jaclyn has an online Millinery store based in Townsville and specialises in custom designing one-off hats & fascinators for the races (Fashions on the Field) and bridal.

Jaclyn has created individual wow-factor hats and has been continually winning Millinery Awards at race days around the country and featuring in numerous fashion parades with local designers and boutiques. (One of which, we are proud to say, was Petticoat Lane!)

You will find past and current designs for sale on the website www.showponi.com.au or Face Book photo galleries www.facebook.com/showponimillinery however we specialise in Bespoke Design (tailor-made head pieces) to perfectly match your outfit – you can  request this by emailing info@showponi.com.au

UrbanMiss Makeup
Cheree Golt
p 0418 796 897
f 07 47 288 096
www.facebook.com/urbanmiss urbanmissmakeup@hotmail.com

Jorjcreative
Georgina Ryan
p 0423313026info@jorjcreative.com
http://www.jorjcreative.com/

Jaclyn McDonald "I believe that passion and determination is everything. The desire to assist ladies release their inner Show Poni, making them feel great and comfortable is my number one aim. Having every other lady at the races turning their head to look at you and whisper to her friend........I wonder where she got THAT HAT??"