A fascination with handbags keeps Christine Smith busy while traveling
She found the hand-tooled leather bag (on her right shoulder), in a secondhand shop in Paeroa. A lifetime love affair with apparel enters a new phase with the collector becoming the creator. Words: Kate Coughlan Photos: Tessa Chrisp Christine Smith has a hat that looks just like a hamburger on a plate. No, really, she does. Another one resembles a spooky face that could have been painted by artist Tony Fomison. A visage for wearing as headgear? Why not? Her little red teacup-and-saucer bonnet doesn’t speak of art for the bonce; more of laughs for a fun day out. She’s worn these hats — and many others just as notable — when watching the horses race at Flemington in Melbourne...