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(updated in August 2010)

How did you become interested in millinery?
The story began in England in the late 1980s. I was living in London and working in a completely different profession when I started doing an evening class in millinery. My day job did not require much creative expression, so I was keen to unleash that through hats! I had always been interested in fashion and textiles.

Where did you learn millinery?
At evening classes with Rose Cory (who created hats for the Queen Mother) in London; at Wimbledon School of Art, also in London, where I studied costume and specialised in costume millinery [view photos].

How long have you been a milliner? Where did you start?
I got my first job as a milliner in 1990, with a period costume company in London. I made hats for different film and television productions: BBC dramas [Pride and Prejudice, Persuasion and The House of Eliott], Merchant Ivory films [Howards End, The Remains of the Day and Jefferson in Paris], etc. I worked with costume designers, interpreting their designs. The actors came in to be fitted for the costumes including the hats. I learnt a lot about the history of hats, as I would research the millinery fashions of the period before I started making hats for each film.

Can you mention some of the actors who have worn your millinery creations?
Tom Cruise in the movie Far and Away, Vanessa Redgrave, Emma Thompson and Helena Bonham Carter in Howards End, Minnie Driver [Mr. Wroe's Virgins], Nick Nolte [Jefferson in Paris] and Jennifer Ehle in Pride and Prejudice.

How long did you stay with this company?
I worked with this company for 5 years before returning in 1995 to Melbourne, Australia, where I set up my millinery business. I work from my studio in the Nicholas Building in Melbourne [watch video from ABC; approximately 2.5 minutes]. I wholesale my hats to boutiques and have my clients coming to my studio to order unique hats. Since 1995 I have been teaching theatrical millinery to students on the Diploma of Costume course at the Swinburne TAFE in Melbourne [photo above; view more photos].

Where do you get inspiration for your designs?
I get inspiration from the fabrics I use. I'm always on the look out for different materials to design hats and fascinators. Garage sales and hardware stores can reveal some interesting treasures. I also draw inspiration from historical work I've done.

Who are your customers now?
The Melbourne Cup punctuates my year with regular race goers, women working in the racing industry and people heading off to the event for the first time – all coming to me for hats and fascinators. However, the racing season does not stop there. Australia hosts racing carnivals around the year; the Cairns Amateurs, the Darwin Cup, Broome Cup, the Magic Millions, all bring women to my millinery studio, in person or through this website.

What are your recent projects?
Since 2006 I have had a magical partnership with Hugo Boss. Every year I create elegant and contemporary one-off designs to go with Hugo Boss women's wear, as part of Melbourne Spring Fashion Week. My range of specially-designed, exquisite hats is exhibited (and available for sale) at their Collins Street store (230 Collins Street, Melbourne, VIC). In 2010, the exhibition will be between 30 August and 5 September.

In 2007 I was invited to present some of my creations at the Melbourne Spring Fashion Week Millinery Parade. In 2008 I was featured on I Just Love That Hat, by Robyn Johnson of Five Mile Press. She has put together a beautiful little book on hats, which includes a selection of greeting cards and envelops. Several of my hats are featured in the book [view details about the book and view a few pages].

Also in 2008 the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) purchased Miss Moneypenny and Bibi Cap for its collection! I have one more thing to add... I was delighted to be awarded 3rd prize in the Professional Millinery competition at Melbourne's Spring Racing Carnival 2008 [view awarded hat] and a finalist in 2009 [view hat].

In 2009 I created a "Fans of Louise Macdonald Milliner" on Facebook to gather my millinery students and hat wearers.

In early 2010, I was featured in The Hat Magazine. This English publication is distributed internationally, and I felt honoured to be included in such a well respected magazine. The editor, Carol Denford, wrote: "Everything in the studio is made by hand, the finished work is exquisite, it is feminine and light, personal to the wearer, detailed and has a kind of movement particular to her label." [view details]

Currently, I am making designs for the 150th edition of Melbourne Cup!

Do you have a ready-to-wear range?
Yes, I do, for hats and headpieces. In 2009 I launched my online shop of Whimsies. There is a new range for 2010. Stunning, smaller headpieces that fit any head size, sit securely (so won't be blown away in the famous Melbourne weather), suit all face shapes and can be worn on any angle to suit. An additional benefit is the perfect size of the Whimsy, if you are intending to travel – no large hat box required. Whimsies are suitable for any occasion; weddings, evening races, parties and many more events on your social calendar. You can also purchase my current range of hats online.

What have you done internationally in recent years?
Since 2006 I have worked in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, exhibiting and selling hats in the lead up to the Dubai World Cup. The event has the world's biggest prize money to the winning horse! The fashions on track are an eclectic mix, reflecting styles and trends from around the world at this international event. I went there again in 2010 to exhibit my hats at the BurJuman Center [view Louise's hats in Dubai 2010].

Do you teach millinery?
This is another rewarding part of my work – sharing skills and inspiring students to express their creativity. One of the students said: "I was so inspired by your teaching... I think I may have found something in millinery that gives me enormous satisfaction. I cannot believe I have spent so much of my life NOT involved in this fascinating field."

I have many millinery courses scheduled for 2010 and 2011 [view Louise's millinery courses].

How would you describe your style of hats?
Elegant and quirky that relate well to the head!

(updated in August 2010)

View Louise Macdonald's ready-to-wear range
View Louise's latest fashion hats and fascinators
Ask Louise to design a hat especially for you
Learn millinery

Enquiries
For more information, please contact Louise Macdonald's millinery studio.