Marie Galvin
Marie Galvin, of Galvin-ized Headwear in Boston, Massachusetts, designs hats that cost between $125-$795, but can go up to $2,000 for an especially spectacular piece.
"It can take anywhere from six hours to a week to complete something really couture," she explained.
Marie Galvin
On whether ladies repeat their hats, Galvin explained, "Very rarely. New Englanders are quite frugal but my ladies want one of a kind memorable hats."
Marie Galvin
"I only design one of a kind," Galvin said of the fear women have of wearing the same hat as a fellow guest, "for that particular reason."
Polly Singer
Polly Singer, of Polly Singer Couture Hats & Veils in Lexington, Kentucky, designs 250 hats a year that range in price from $200 - $700
"The movement and sculpture of a hat is so important," she explained. "It should be stylish and timeless. A lot of it is picking a hat that's right for you, I prefer stylish and timeless over shock value. For the Derby, it's about the really big, big because it's the one time you can really wear it"
Polly Singer
"I think a hat is too big when it’s wider than the shoulders."
Sally Steinmenn
Sally Steinmenn, of Maggie Mae Designs in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, who designs 30 hats a year that range, on average, from $488 - $800, but can cost up to $2,000!
"I don't make glue gun hats," she explained. "My millinery is couture and everything is done by hand."
Sally Steinmenn
"Most ladies already have the ensemble all figured out before they the hat," Steinmenn added, "I have clients who come to me, sometimes the day after the Derby, and say this is what I want for next year. The whole millinery experience is such a creative process and you work together with your clients for months and months in advanced. It's fun because I find that my customers become more adventurous and interesting in their choice each year."
Sally Steinmenn
"This year I think the wide brim is it—even fascinators, they want to have a brim," she says, of the trends we can expect for 2013, "I've been seeing a lot of hot pink, always, but also bold yellows, marigold orange and poppy red. Black is always big against a bold color. Colors are conducive to major drama—people love color and drama. They want them big, wide, bold, and playful –it's a celebration!"
Diane Siverson
Diane Siverson, of Lady Diane's Hats in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho, designs a few hundred hats a year that range from $225 - $1000 in price
"My clients generally have an outfit already," she said, "but most hat makers would prefer them pick a hat first, I like the challenge of the other way around."
Diane Siverson
"The ideal and standard is an 18-inch brim," added Siverson.
Gena Conti
Gena Conti, of Gena Conti Millinery in Wyandotte, Michigan, makes 200 hats a year for the Derby, has won the Kentucky Derby Museum Hat Exhibit nine years in a row.
"For this year there has really been a return to the big hat," she said, of current trends, "A big, big hat again after the fascinator craze, and the more feathers and flowers you put on it the better. That’s not as much my style and luckily my clients are more haute couture. But for colors, the usual black-and-white and a lot of natural tones some oranges and greens and a few in blue. With The Great Gatsby coming out, I think romantic is in too; oversized cloche hats and vintage materials."
Gena Conti
"I think ultimately it’s all about the line, and the shape has to be suited for you," she said.
Jill Henning
Jill Henning, of Jill Henning Fineries in Toldeo, Ohio, makes 60 hats a year that range in price from $428 to $4,000.
"For this year, I'm seeing a lot of beautiful soft nude-colored hats," she said.
Jill Henning
"A lot of people like a huge brim," she said, "but I’d rather have small and tall with a big personality."
Jill Henning
"A great derby hat needs quality materials, great design, and attention to detail," Henning explained. "A big, elaborate custom piece is usually around $1,000 dollars because of the materials. One rose from Paris can cost $125 – wholesale!"
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