the View does Ellen Christine

It's been one polluted week for hats. The Royal Wedding had every tv show scrambling for coverage, not just by their camermen, but coverage for the talking heads. Those heads needed hats, and pronto. It was like: "oops, we forgot the hats", and so a mad dash for hats happened all over town (New York City). And, as per usual, in the fashion world, it was all last minute.

One of the shows Ellen Christine Millinery covered was TheView. Barbara Walters' baby, with a revolving panel of 4, this talk show brings topics and opinions to the forefront of livingrooms in America.

For the Royal Wedding Show, the costume designer called in pieces early in the week (that's this week, for those who aren't following), to be seen by the cast, producer, whomever deigns the wardrobe worthy enough for daytime television audiences, and approved. Apparently, the ladies choose their wardrobe a scant moment before the cameras start to roll, so, not only did we not know their headsizes, but we sure didn't know what they would be wearing.

Good thing I know these ladies from years of watching them on programs. Sheri, we had actually done hats for , when her sitcom needed hats for a church episode. The best way out of this would be to send in fascinators: those little darling drops of joy that perch on the head and cause everyone to giggle. Couldn't go wrong with a fascinator, so off they went: a goodly selection.

When they walked out on stage we got our surprise: Goldi Hawn was the guest host today! And she was wearing a black "Kitchen Sink" I had whipped up that morning. It's ditsy enough for her, but chic. They chose the one I had put in the box just perfect for Elizabeth: a peach horsehair "choux", that had just been featured on "The Aisle". There's another version of this little hat in the "Henri Bendel by Ellen Christine" collection, too. If there are any left.

See The View, our episode, here in it's entirety:

http://abc.go.com/watch/the-view/SH559080/VD55124459/the-view-429

Happy New Year!

And what a way to break in the new year, new move, new energy:

Italian Vogue cover, January, 2011.

Thank you Karl Templer, once again, for incredible shots of our hats. Thank you, Italian Vogue, for the cover!

Boaters rule: we're doing tiny ones, medium ones, and oversized ones. Just check out the trailer for the Real Housewives of New York: Alex McCord is wearing our Edwardian fantasy hat........it's the big black thing taking up the entire screen, in case you're wondering.

But that's in February. This is January, and we must revel in the moment of our Italian Vogue cover.

Happy New Year, all!

Remember that apointments can be booked now, using our phone (212-242-2457), or email (ellen@ellenchristine.com), for studio fittings, design consultation, and getting all of you hatless ones accessorized!

ellen christine chelsea says "Hello, soho"

Here's our last window, just in time for the new snow. A celebration, a new beginning, with a Snow Queen to inspire and lead us into 2011. Ellen Christine Millinery is now in Soho. We've been there for 25 years, but now we're open to the public, not just to the designers, editors and stylists.
Whew, what a move. Days of boxes, and days of construction, and at some point, we'll be pretty enough for receiving guests again.

At the studio/loft/showroom in West soho, we are already booked through January for brides. Nothing deters the brides, boy. Nothing. And we thank them for their determination and undaunted spirit in search for the perfect headpiece and veil.

May we serve you all, with more fun, less agravation, many good vibes, and tea. Because here, we have a kitchen!

Appointments can be made via internet, or phone. We welcome all .

Thank you for your support, and may it be a year of blessings for us all!

Ellen Christine

99 Van Dam, 4E

212-242-2457

ellen@ellenchristine.com

Phot by Sandy Ramirez

New York Magazine Credit

When the New York Magazine planned on doing a shot of the women of Almodovar's "Women on the Verge", they called around for "pillbox" hats for the shoot. This is an example of how history happens, hat lovers.

What we call a pillbox, is of course, a real deal, invented eons ago, but made ever so popular by Halston's winning design for Jackie Kennedy when she was Madame Mrs. President. The pillbox, oft seen in Turkish references, and Victorian libraries (men wore them as "smoking" caps, to keep the smell of cigar smoke from their Macassar oil-slicked hair), has now become a word with many meanings. As is the wont of the fashion press, invention is the mother of necessity, and the word becomes the reality as per job requirement. A pillbox to the young set may now seem to be a smallish, head-hugging anything of a cute little hat, with or sans veil. Whether it be the shape that gave it it's name, or the contemporary translation of the concept, little hats have made their mark and their comeback!

Look out world!

Panama Hat

As the last fragments of summer waft past our eyes, and the school year becomes more than a far away dream, spring 2011 is on every milliner's mind. We design now for next year, as with all fashion, and fashion presentation, it is done 6 months in advance.

This past season, we all had problems with materials coming out of Ecuador. Because of earthquakes and climate changes, the toquilla palm growth wasn't up to par, and orders for panama hats got backed up. We've just heard of another earthquake in Ecuador, so we're keepingour fingers crossed for the ingenious weavers of Montecristi, and every other village there, where they make our elusive bodies for hats.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRia8pZTorw&feature=player_embedded

Here's to Spring 2011!! May our market expand, and may every head in NYC be wearing a hat!

sigh. a girl can dream, can't she?