Melbourne International Millinery Competition 2023

Jean Shrimpton white dress
Jean Shrimpton white dress Derby day 1965

Australia’s most exciting millinery competition is back for the seventh year and we’re got a real doozy for you.

This year’s theme is to consider what Jean Shrimpton SHOULD have worn when she attended the Derby Day race meeting during the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival in 1965.

Considered the world’s first Super Model, “the Shrimp” was invited to the Carnival in order to help boost recognition of the new Fashions On The Field event held by the Victorian Racing Club.

Needless to say, Ms Shrimpton caused an utter scandal – she wore a dress above the knee, no stockings, no gloves, and, a milliner’s nightmare, NO HAT!

Read about it here – en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_shift_dress_of_Jean_Shrimpton.

So, imagine a Super Model, wearing this outrageously short white shift dress, what should she wear on her head?

The Competition

The 2023 competition saw milliners being challenged to make a headpiece that Jean Shrimpton should have worn. We had dresses made for our models, based on that worn By Jean.

View the hats on the gallery here or follow us @mimc_competition on Instagram for detailed descriptions and feedback from the judges of all the entries.

Previous Competitions

View all entries from previous competitions in our archives and follow us @mimc_competition on Instagram for detailed descriptions and feedback from the judges of all the entries.

MIMC 2023 Competition Winners

Congratulations to the winners. Images of their hats are below.

Results

1st Place

Nicholette Pottier - Prismatic

2nd Place

Alison Morgan - Daisy

3rd Place

Karen Bailey - Oops!

People's Choice

Margaret Woodliff Wright -