We were lucky to catch up with Helen Overfield recently and have shared our conversation below.

Helen, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

My parents instilled in me at a young age, a love of learning and trying new things. They exposed me to various art forms growing up and I have always enjoyed creating. My father was an engineer and was always “inventing something.” Both of my parents had Master’s Degrees and were very involved in their children’s education. They encouraged us to always do more than the minimum, and to take risks. Their support, no matter what I did was so valuable. They have since passed away, bur I know they’d be proud of the “Hats Off by Helen” business I created.

Helen, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

How “Hats Off by Helen” Began

I have been making Kentucky Derby hats, “unofficially”, for more than 35 years. My husband and I entertained out-of-town guests and clients for countless Kentucky Derby weekends for the past three decades. He was in the Bourbon industry, and they sponsored many thoroughbred horse races. Every year, there were guests who were unprepared for the Kentucky Derby fashion expectations and arrived sans hats. I came to their rescue, making these ladies hats or embellishing one of my own for them. I actually made my first hat one year when I couldn’t find one that coordinated with my outfit. Enough of these experiences eventually led me start Hats Off by Helen as a business in 2014. (I realized she was soon going to be an empty nester and needed a project.) I had three daughters in three different colleges in three different states, and the hats and fascinator “hobby” kept me from missing them.
I am having so much fun with this hobby turned small business. I create most of the hats and fascinators in the day time or weekends in my studio and enjoy the creative process the most.
Ninety percent of my business is out of state. When people come to the Kentucky Derby, in Louisville Kentucky, whether they are horse enthusiasts, or “bucket listers” – they want a hat or fascinator made in the Bluegrass state!
My daughters have now graduated and are living back in Louisville, Kentucky and often help with the business, particularly during the Triple Crown Spring season of thoroughbred horse racing – the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes, as well as Breeders’ Cup in the Fall.
My hats are made with the Kentucky Derby in mind, but have been purchased for Breeders’ Cup, Preakness, Belmont, Saratoga, Keeneland, Del Mar, steeplechases, polo matches, carriage driving and other equestrian events, as well as Mardi Gras luncheons, debutant luncheons, garden parties, teas and weddings. Several have been worn to the royal Ascot in England.
Hats Off by Helen ships all over the United States. The hats and fascinators can also be seen on her Facebook and Instagram pages “Hats Off by Helen.” My website www.HatsOffbyHelen.com and my Etsy Shop www.etsy.com/shop/hatsoffbyhelen are places where clients can purchase them. My hat and fascinator designs are exclusive as they are all one-of-a-kind creations. I try to keep my price points modest, so they are affordable for most everyone.
A few unique things about my work – each hat or fascinator is titled with a name that sounds like a thoroughbred race horse, such as “Paddock Princess”, “Final Furlong”, “Garden Gait”, “Jockeying For Attention” or Finisher Filly.” In addition to the creative names, each head piece comes with two lucky betting numbers and instructions on how to bet an Exacta bet. It adds to the experience, and who knows? Their pay off could be as pretty as their hat if their horses come in at the finish line.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a milliner/hat designer is the creative process. I think about color combinations in my sleep and try to create new looks each season. Floral embellishments and feathers have always been popular on wide brimmed hats, but the fascination with fascinators (crown like creations on headbands or elastic bands) has increased over the years due to the European influence of the Royal Weddings in England. Some people are not comfortable wearing a large hat, and the fascinators are smaller and very easy to wear. I am finding the younger women prefer fascinators, and I am creating more each year to meet that demand. I find myself getting list in the creation, and hours can go by…it doesn’t even feel like work! I also enjoy helping women find the perfect headpiece to complement their outfit, face shape, skin tone, hair, etc… The smile on their faces when they put it on just says it all.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

My web site is HatsOffbyHelen.com
I have Instagram pages and Facebook pages “Hats Off by Helen” both were from organic growth, asking friends and clients to share and invite to page. it’s critical to post relevant content on each of the pages. I post hats and fascinators daily, and also give styling ideas by posting a dress and various choices of styles and colors of headwear. People enjoy the engagement choosing which hat or fascinator they feel looks best with the dress.

Since my creations are very popular at thoroughbred racing, I will post interesting facts about the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont, and Breeders’ Cup. Sometimes it’s a hot tip on how to read a racing program or how to bet for beginners. Other times I post historical facts about past winner, owners, trainers, jockeys or a specific racetrack. Two favorites are my recipes for Kentucky Derby Pie (chocolate pecan and bourbon) and the official drink of the Kentucky Derby – the mint julep. It is important to post information with an image – just text doesn’t catch one’s eye. I also post images and videos with music, such as “Call to the Post”, “My Old Kentucky Home” or “Run for the Roses.”

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.HatsOffbyHelen.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hatsoffbyhelen/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hatsoffbyhelen
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenoverfield/
• Other: Etsy Shop:
  https://www.etsy.com/shop/HatsOffbyHelen

Image Credits

Helen Overfield
John Overfield
Alli Overfield