
Written By Megin Potter | Photos by Joan K. Lentini, jklentini.com
[From the 2025 Summer Magazine]

Anna Hollander, with Market Impact, an 8-year-old colt in After the Races NY, a boutique Thoroughbred Retirement program located in Saratoga Springs.

Ahead of the Curve
Must-have millinery from Nancy Matt takes Saratoga fashion to new heights.
Teal, lemon yellow, and shades of violet are stealing the show this year, as large-print florals, hot pinks, limes, and royal blues vie for the spotlight. Denim, with its down-home roots, dares a bold, high-fashion resurgence in its many varied shades and organic forms.

For fashionable ladies creating a Saratoga wardrobe, no look is complete without headwear, said Nancy Matt, a milliner who creates ornate one-of-a-kind looks for gals wanting to get noticed.
The concept that “correct” track attire includes heavenly hats dates back to the racing industry’s origins, when glamorous headpieces were a striking symbol of high society. In today’s landscape, they are more than a cool-girl signifier; they have been elevated to the realm of wearable art.
These showstopping sculptural accessories are a must-have for everyone who has something to say.
“Hats talk,” said Nancy, the private designer behind Le Beau Chapeau. She was first introduced to Saratoga’s style scene in 1998 when the notable honorary hostess of a gala event first began wearing her designs. Many more of society’s Who’s Who list followed, including local philanthropists, celebrities, and television personalities. “Hats fill a societal need. If you love to be noticed and receive compliments, wearing very special hats and headwear will do it,” she said.

The Feather in One’s Fascinator
Twenty-five years ago, getting noticed was all about creating a sphere of personal space around yourself with “Airport Clearance”- sized 10” brims, remembers Nancy. Then, the fashion-forward graduated to the fascinator, a cap with bird-like plumage that was bold but smaller in size (and easier to transport on the train).
The windswept feathers made a splash, putting the wearer’s personality on display in a flamboyant new way that flagged down Saratoga Race Course’s fast-paced royalty. To give her timeless classics a playful twist, Nancy's feminine curves and asymmetrical shapes are filled with movement.
When the wind kicked up, whisking the shoulder-length vintage Irish lace on Nancy Matt’s winning design into the air at the annual “Hats Off to Saratoga” contest, judge Mary Lou Whitney was swept away, and soon, others interested in adding extravagantly exciting elegance to their occasion-wear arsenal followed.
Among Nancy’s most memorable creations are an elaborate botanical garden hat carrying a cascade of baby orchids and two made in honor of the Royal Wedding in 2018 (a dramatic fascinator featuring a golden coach, and one with a demitasse tea-cup made in collaboration with Saratoga Tea & Honey).

Anna 3720

Anna 3795
Horsing Around
Le Beau Chapeau’s wild side has intrigued us with flights of fancy, delighted us with mystery, seashells, lily pads, and bejeweled frogs. In 2008, Nancy remembers watching Big Brown win the Kentucky Derby at Saratoga’s Canfield Casino while surrounded by so many of her hats that one had to step atop a stool to see above the crowd, she said. The women in the Winner’s Circle that day almost exclusively wore Le Beau Chapeau designs.
No matter who Nancy is dressing (including Saratoga’s dogs!), she begins each project the same way. After consulting with a client, she selects and molds the raw materials, gathers, ruffles, crimps, and forms skeins of straw into elemental shapes atop a base frame that has been hand-sewn in New York City to each client’s unique size requirements. Designs are lined with non-slip fabric and wide, comfortable headbands for a secure-feeling fit, then topped with treasures from her extensive collection of trims, silk flowers, and unexpected adornments.
The customer dictates the headpiece, said Nancy, so depending on what they want, each finished work of art can take anywhere from four hours to four days to complete. Crafting the crowning touch to an outfit requires a minimum of two weeks. Find Le Beau Chapeau at Fancy Schmancy, 641 New Loudon Rd., in Latham, NY.