Along with her obsession for hats grew a mission to pay homage to the visionaries who created them. She points out that many iconic fashion designers, such as Coco Chanel, began their careers in millinery, but their contributions are often overlooked. “I would like to see hats brought back to their place in fashion history,” says the entrepreneur. “In times past, if a lady went to Paris to order a couture gown, her ensemble wasn’t complete until she ordered a chapeau to top it off. I want to recognize the milliners who have been largely forgotten.”
Professionally trained at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology, Barbara is a milliner in her own right. For the past few decades, most of her design work has shifted from original construction to the restoration of hats for museums and private clients. Surrounded by exquisite creations, inspiring fashion books, and sumptuous adornments, the preservationist labors tirelessly in her Long Beach, California, studio. She demonstrates her commitment to historical integrity by using period-authentic materials in her reparations, down to the thread with which she stitches by hand.
Hi Barbara!
In an old “hats UK forum” I found a message between you and some other people (from 2008). The reason to get there was a google question because of a hat from sandra phillipps. Yesterday I found a wonderful exponate on a german fleamarket (Degas). She´s still alive!
Greetings from Germany!
Pia
C’est toujours avec joie de lire tes posts
Ms. Troeller: You’re chic hats stemming from early 1800’s to present are a sight for sore eyes. Do you have a web sight to view your hats….. Che che la femme!