London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Jul 09, 2025

Fascinators, Florals, and a Healthy Dose of Sunshine at Central Park’s Annual Hat Luncheon

Fascinators, Florals, and a Healthy Dose of Sunshine at Central Park’s Annual Hat Luncheon

Over $2.8 million dollars was raised over two days and ten separate locations throughout Central Park.

It was with a renewed gusto that hundreds of well-heeled attendees made their way to Central Park on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon. After over a year of dressing down, an occasion to dress up-to the nines, tens, and beyond-had finally come to fruition with the annual 39th Annual Frederick Law Olmsted Awards Luncheon benefitting The Central Park Conservancy.

Often known simply as “The Hat Luncheon,” the annual gathering took place over two days, across various locations, tucked inside Central Park’s many beautiful secret nooks so as to avoid any large crowds. The likes of Alexia Leuschen, Elyse Newhouse, and Yesim Philip, president of the park’s Women’s Committee, were hard to miss, though, as they donned hats of all shapes and sizes; some were bursting with tulle, fresh flowers, and even a sequined parrot. For Tony Award-winning producer Jenna Segal, the event called for a hat nabbed from the costume department of Broadway blockbuster Gigi, in tribute to the return of the theater starting September 14-or potentially sooner, if the rumors are true.

And with the sun shining brightly on the rolling lawns, it appeared as if the park was showing off for the occasion, too, reminding everyone of its essential role in daily city living. “It seems that many people re-connected with nature during the pandemic,” Lauren Santo Domingo, sporting a white dress by Valentino with floral cutouts and a straw boater cap, told us. “For those of us who stayed in New York City, it was a safe haven, and I think few will ever take the park for granted again.”

Taking cues from the lush surroundings, each seating area came decorated with rose and hydrangea centerpieces in Chinoiserie vases by floral designer Andrew Pascoe and toile tablecloths by Scalamandre, which were shoppable to benefit the conservancy. That is, until they sold out. Lunch arrived as an irreverent take on a boxed lunch, served inside of a circular hatbox, and in all, over $2.8 million was raised to continue the park’s role as a much-needed dose of nature for city dwellers, right on their doorstep. “It’s a sanctuary for millions of New Yorkers,” Gillian Miniter, sporting a hat by Eric Javitz, told Vogue. “It’s never looked better, and it’s largely in thanks to the Central Park Conservancy.”

Next up, the park is slated to offer a more intimate take on their annual Taste of Summer food festival, offering open-air dinners by New York City’s favorite chefs across the park in a “Starlight Dinner Series.”



Alexandra Mishaan, Claude Wasserstein, Marcia Mishaan



Alexa Stanlin, Talene Baroyan, Caroline Bouckaert



Alexa Ryan, Stephanie Alfonz, Nelly Miller, Claire Lee-Howart



Gillian Miniter



Betsy Smith, Michael Bloomberg



Jennifer Oken, Kathlene Kocatas, Yesim Philip, Allison Pappas, Catherin Shepard

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
×