But the hats - in red felt and satin, silver brocade, jade-draped silk and paradise plume - were the stars of Zonta Metropolitan Dunedin's high tea at the Savoy yesterday.
Milliner Lindsay Kennett's handiwork swayed gracefully around the club's Hat Couture show, organised to raise money for the Dunedin Hospital neonatal clinic.
About 170 people attended the sellout show to marvel at 108 hats, in styles from the 1900s to the 1990s.
Mr Kennett said the collection had been shown originally at the Otago Settlers Museum 12 years ago, but had doubled in size since then.
He put the enduring popularity of headwear down to what they could add to a woman's outfit.
"Ladies like hats because they flatter them - if it's the right hat," Mr Kennett said.
Producer Tammy Jackman said the event raised about $5000.
