Disclosure: This is not a compensated or sponsored post. I was provided the product for review purposes only. All opinions expressed here are my own.
I have never really been a hat person; except for the occasional baseball cap and winter hat. However, this summer I began to take notice more about how I can coordinate pretty hats with my outfit, maybe it is because the weather has been so warm and I am trying to stay cool. I recently discovered Karen Morris Millinery.
Karen Morris is an internationally acclaimed hat designer and milliner. She started her line, Karen Morris Millinery, in 2011. Karen studied millinery under famous milliners Edwina Ibbotson (London), Judy Bentinck (London), Jan Wutkowski (North Carolina) and, Lina Stein (Ireland)
Karen was born in the British colony of Hong Kong and moved to America in 2009. Her hats have been worn by celebrities including Rebel Wilson and Nicki Minaj, and at events around the world, including the Kentucky Derby, Royal Ascot, and to meet the Queen of England.
Karen’s work has been featured at museums and fashion events, including Fashion Week MN, Voltage, the American Craft Council, the Smithsonian, and Pure London. Her work has appeared in Vogue, ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, Hatalk, Pioneer Press, and StarTribune, and seen on PBS’ MN Original, Fox 9, and WCCO TV. Karen’s hats are available at distinguished boutiques, in her NE Minneapolis studio and shop, as well as online (kmhats.com).
Her work inspirations are from traveling, architecture, and art sculptures. The philosophy of the brand “Karen Morris Millinery” is Quality, Simplicity, and Elegance. Karen aims to apply both traditional and modern skills to develop a variety of hat shapes and textures, transformed into multi-functional collections that can be worn in an everyday environment, and yet still has a modern twist.
Most of the hats are formed with different shapes of wooden hat blocks and are handmade of exotic materials sourced from around the world. I love collaborating with local artists or designers to bring new design elements to my collections.
Teaching is also part of Karen’s career. She has been teaching hat-making locally and internationally. She hopes her effort can bring this long-lost craft – Millinery back to life.
When I saw her Gingham Cotton Bucket Hat, I instantly fell in love with it. The hat is simple in its creation but it is so beautiful monogrammed with the KM initials. It is meticulously crafted and available in six colors. It speaks of the timelessness of great style.
She aims to apply both traditional and modern skills to develop a variety of hat shapes and textures and creates multi-functional collections that can be worn in real life. This brand has something for everyone.