Parading Your Best Easter Bonnet in New York

The creativity of people's outfits is impressive and fun

The Easter Bunny and a fabulous dress made from balloons for the bonnet parade

New York City celebrates Easter in a DIY way. Every Easter Sunday residents show off their creative chapeaus. It starts from 10am to 4pm, and there isn’t a particular place where it starts, but apparently St. Patrick’s Cathedral is where you have to be to catch the action.

Many wear hats covered in flowers, bunny rabbits, Easter eggs and complete the look with matching outfits, like colourful suits, dresses, or this year in balloons.

One brought his ragdoll cats and he himself wore a cat mask, one woman had a black hat that had a brim that revolved with yellow taxis on it, two women inspired by Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady with over-the-top floral bonnets, a woman with a red and white mushroom on her head, and her small dog had one too.

Two women channelling Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady

What I love about these bonnets and outfits is how fantastic they are, bold with colour and fantastical in how they turned out! These New Yorkers really go all out, and are willing to step out and show off their artistic side.

I saw a picture of a woman with a giant blue emerald with a diamond-crusted bird on top -- of course! It’s the Jean Schlumberger brooch called Bird on a Rock. He was a famous jewellery designer who worked with Tiffany & Co. A variation of the brooch was recently worn by Heated Rivalry actor Connor Storrie at the Golden Globes.

Hupp with her tribute to Schlumberger with her Bird on a Rock hat

She is Emily Hupp, a jewellery box historian who explained that Schlumberger made the brooch for socialite Bunny Mellon, which is why she had a small bunny pin on her dress; she wore a yellow rose dress because Mellon was a gardener. So what better way to pay tribute to New York than with this bejewelled creation on her head?

I love Schlumberger’s glittering pieces, and appreciate Hupp’s homage to the designer!

A ragdoll man feeding his ragdoll cat a treat during the parade

Some day I hope to make it to the Big Apple’s Easter bonnet parade with a fun creation of my own. If anything just to take part and enjoy sharing the fun with others.