Millinery panache with a newspaper splash

Otago Polytechnic academic leader of fashion Margo Barton judges the 31 entries in the Otago Daily Times iD paper hat design competition yesterday. Dr Barton said she was looking for fun, as well as style, in the hats, which had to include a prominent Otago Daily Times masthead.

''I'm looking for something which would actually be worn, if it was not made from newspaper,'' she said. Feathers, flowers, beads, paint, sequins and tulle were among materials incorporated into entries. Designers from throughout Otago, aged between 5 and 97 years, submitted their creations in the hope of winning first prize, which is worth more than $3000.

It comprised tickets to iD Dunedin Fashion Week events, as well as products and vouchers. A category for those under 16 years was also included in the competition, which paid homage to this year's international iD guest, British milliner Stephen Jones. The winners will be published in the ODT iD supplement next week.