This past week, the millinery world was blown away by a fresh breeze of inspiration at New York’s art deco Edison Ballroom, as Village Care presented Tulips and Pansies: The Headdress Affair. As one of those glorious ‘only-in-New-York’ genre of events, Tulips and Pansies invites drag queens, designers and the fashion-forward to mingle and be raucously entertained with a runway show of top-heavy (as in hat) magnificence.

This year, the headdress took center stage, overshadowing even the verbose James Aguiar who was be-leaf-able in a plant print suit, rhinestone eyelashes, and dripping in witticisms. The crowd was a mix of leading figures from the corporate entertainment world, such as Jack Curry, and from the fashion industry, which included Kelly Cutrone (founder of People’s Revolution), who co-chaired this gleeful event. Bill Cunningham was also in the room, so all was good indeed.

Countless of designers, including the likes of Lilly Pulitzer, Thierry Mugler, and Chado Ralph Rucci, collaborated with master florists to create flor-ific ensembles suffused with vines, ivy and freshly cut blossoms. Don’t ask me how they were kept on the heads of the girls wearing them, but mammoth twig structures, exploding orchids, and any plant life left in the flower district made its way onto that stage in the guise of a hat. Several of the pieces used extraneous materials as part of their confection…after all, what’s a room full of drag queens without rhinestones and feathers?

Ralph Rucci’s ultra chic pillbox appeared alongside the outrageous collaborations created by the Imperial Court of New York. Sculptural lilies from Lilly Pulitzer, Morrocan inspiration from Tory Burch, and 4 feet of wheatgrass from Form New York in collaboration with Preston Bailey swayed down the runway. Zang Toi, the winner of the Most Beautiful Headdress award and the reigning darling of the New York fashion scene, unveiled a pink embroidered evening gown (last seen on Bethenny Frankel on the cover of Social Life Magazine) coupled with a magnificently balanced floral bird’s nest. This was created by Golf Srithamrong from Tantawan Bloom Inc., who wove together willow, sweet peas and cymbidium to create a breathtaking headpiece.

The judges, among whom were Patrick McDonald and Mick Rock–known for his prolific photographic body of rock’n'roll work–named Sara Claire and Esther (in collaboration with Fleurs) as the Most Entertaining designers. The bustle Fleurs concocted from blood red roses to match their red and black rose and ostrich plume hat won my heart.

The rule of the evening was: fashion, fun, food, gorgeous girls and a dash of charity at its best. I only regret that it’s but once a year.

Image © Keith K. Lew/Guestofaguest.com