Hats Off to One New City Woman

When Debbie Lurie talks about one of her favorite passions, her eyes glitter and her face wears a smile as broad as her widest brim. 

Like so many famous women in time, Lurie wears many hats. Her collection is breathtaking. From a simple derby hat to a charismatic cloche, Lurie has quite a collection.

But Lurie is not just a hat wearer, she is a hat designer. Her hats are not just cotton wool or felt. Lurie’s hats have history, horses and waterfalls.

Saratoga

For the last three years, Lurie and a childhood friend, who she recently found on Facebook, Annmarie Mitchell, have entered the Saratoga Race Track annual hat day contest. The contest has three categories and celebrates the arrival of the Saratoga racing season.

“This year we brainstormed by email for almost a year,” Lurie explained “We build on each other. We wanted to create a replica of a Saratoga waterfall with working water and have mechanical horses.” 

Horses and water they had. Wearing matching olive dresses to go with the color of their hats, each lady held a pump attached to their hats which allowed the fountains to have running water on their heads. The two hat designs won the ladies first place this year in the uniquely Saratoga division.

The ladies split the grand prize of a $500 betting voucher, a $100 gift card to the Gideon Putnam Resort and Spa, a $50 gift card to Saratoga Trunk and a silver trophy.

“We were used in all kinds of publicity for this year’s hat contest from our last year’s designs and were on television local news and in at least three newspapers this year.” Lurie beamed.

More than 175 people entered this year’s event. Mitchell and Lurie always wear their hats all day to insure that they are seen by all and even receive suggestions for next year’s designs from passersby.  

Mitchell,who lives in Stillwater, NY, owns a timber frame business, so she is more the mechanics end of the hat designs. Lurie has lived in New City with her family for 13 years and is very active in the community.

As Lurie's son Avi played elegantly on his baby grand in the background, Lurie explained that she and Mitchell grew up together in Niskayuna, Schenectady.

"Her group of friends swooped me in and they are lovely," she remembered. "This is all so much fun."

This duo will be back in Saratoga next year and is looking forward to many more Saratoga hat wearing days to come.