Congratulations to Melbourne Milliner, Stephanie Spencer who received the 2020 Melbourne Cup Millinery Award. This COVID year has been the most challenging of all for milliners globally. Shoes as a Hat epitomises our feelings as our normal worlds have been turned upside down. A Milliner commented prior to the judging, "I love the ballet shoes hat. So clever and beautiful.” This certainly…

Nothing conventional with the headwear creations in the 2020 Melbourne Cup Millinery Award, each piece radiates the extraordinary! Congratulations and hats off to all finalists.

Winner:…

This year for the first time in its history, the Melbourne Cup Carnival is going ahead without crowds. Whilst we can’t go to Flemington this year, many traditions continue, and we can all still enjoy the Carnival by celebrating at home. Since March, I have been dressing up and making an event of following the races at home. Along the way, I have learnt a few tricks I can share with you to help…

Milliner Rosemary Kanko Arthur truly believes “Through simplicity comes great Beauty” as she designs intricate and delicate headwear for customers in Ghana. Her love of nature, plants and flowers is reflected in all her designs with added sparkle and brilliance.



What do you love most about Millinery?

Making hats brings out my creativity and are simpler to…

Discover creative and practical millinery techniques to create a stunning headpiece that suspends gracefully over the face.
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For Master Milliner, Margaret Gill an opportunity was given to diversify from Fashion Millinery to Theatrical Work. Read about the challenges and delight she experienced with this transition.…

Capture Sophie Allport's passion for leather in your own millinery styling as you learn new techniques for modern materials.
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UK Milliner Christopher Garner has the ability to create headwear that is delightfully demure or fantastically whimsical, all of which delight the beholder. 

What do you love most about Millinery?

There are so many things that I love most about millinery so this is such a difficult question to answer (laughs out loud). I love the…

Manipulate robust buntal straw to create showstopping trims with a concealed sinamay edge on a blocked buntal beret.
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Very few milliners are given the chance to exhibit their headwear in a National Museum. Melbourne milliner and designer Angela Menz was so excited to be asked to exhibit her creation, rewarding her for her passion for Fashion on the Field. 

Photos: @ontrackontrend

How did the Winx outfit idea develop?

Winx was racing at…

Amy Jo Traylor of Florida, US is on a mission to see women wearing hats. Like many milliners she started making for herself and soon people were asking, “Where did you get that Fantastic hat from?” ….and so she established her business 'Amy Jo Original Hats’  in 2014. Her love of colour and bold trims and…

Spend time with Master Milliner and International Educator Louise Macdonald and gain practical hat making tips gained from 25+ years in the Millinery industry.
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Adam Brand is known globally as 'The Flower Man' and rightfully so as he manages the family business in New York to produce the most exquisite flowers to adorn milliners headwear and fashion designers creations. 

Saucer Hats are a popular millinery style as they suit all face shapes. Through mastering the flexibility and strength of the buntal straw, Master Milliner Louise Macdonald teaches you how she has innovated a technique to create saucer styles with out using traditional blocking methods.…

'Ana Bella Millinery' is now a well recognized brand globally, with a defining signature styling that readily catches the eye of judges and the media. Discover Ana Pribylova's millinery journey from small beginnings in Australia to featured in the Royal Ascott Style Guide.



What do you love most about Millinery?

I love that there are so many different facets of…

Isobel Robinson is the tireless milliner behind the label 'Lillibets Millinery' in West Yorkshire, UK. She commenced her creative journey making unique jewellery but once she discovered the synergy between jewellery and millinery she took the courageous step away from her corporate job to venture full-time into this wonderful world of never ending creativity.



Most of her headwear or jewellery is…

Master Milliner and Educator, Louise Macdonald shares the inspiring process to create this magnificent hat that reached the Finals of the Oaks Day Millinery Award 2017. There is always a fascinating story behind the hat.

Photo: Richard Shaw



All your hats have an imaginative title, what did you label…

Kristin Silverman started millinery out of a personal love of wearing hats. With a passion for yesteryear styling she has embraced the saying “study the past if you would define your future”. 



How you would describe your designs?

I like to say my style is vintage-inspired hats for everyday wear.

What is your ideal…

Create elegant wide brimmed hats by shaping woven buntal straw without the need of hat blocks.
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