: Formé Millinery

I discovered Chicago-based hat company, Formé Millinery, at the Modern Vintage shopping event back in October. Although I don't normally don't wear hats, seeing these beautiful headpieces made me want to start! Calling them "hats" doesn't even do it justice; they are beautiful, wearable pieces of art. Formé Millinery designer Jenny Pfanenstiel is a true Couture Milliner and it is very exciting to have such a talented and unique designer like her as part of our Chicago community.

It was recently brought to my attention that one of Formé Millinery's cocktail hats (also known as a fascinator) was featured in the April issue of British Vogue. Guest blogger Ashley Barlow interviewed designer Jenny Pfanenstiel about her experience with hat making, her inspiration and being featured in British Vogue.

Photo: Ashley Barlow wearing a hat she made herself, inspired by Jenny Pfanenstiel 

Why did you focus your business on hats?

I have always had a love for hats since I was a little girl.  I use to wear hats all of the time. When I realized you could have a career as a milliner, I jumped right in and learned everything that I could about it.  More importantly though, when I learned that millinery was a dying art, I wanted to become a milliner even more to help preserve the craft.  Today, we (at least in America) have become such a casual country, that it has become customary to not wear hats when you go out.  I hope to change that. 

Do you get any of your inspiration from the Chicago fashion climate?

Climate does play a factor in what I design for the season.  In the winter, most people want to be warm.  I just make them warm and fashionable!  Same in the summer.  Most people are looking for hats that are going to provide them coverage from the sun.  I just do it with style.     

  
Where else do you get inspiration from?

My inspiration comes from many places - people, fashion, plants, nature, raw materials.  So many times my ideas just come to me in my dreams.  Or I am looking at the raw straw that I am about to make a hat out of and it just forms itself.  My hands just help it along and provide the finishing touches.

What is your favorite fashion era & why?

I love the 30's and 40's.  Sometimes I believe I am an old soul from that era.  Not only does that era influence my design work, but my house is filled with antiques from then as well.  I love it!

I've read a lot of your materials are vintage. Where do you look for your materials?

I look high and low for one of-a-kind pieces.  This helps make my hats more unique and special.  Plus, I love going to estate sales and antiques to find that perfect item.  Another reason why I like to use antique/vintage pieces is because I am "reusing" materials.  I am giving something that was once used and giving it a new purpose. 

How does it feel to be featured in British Vogue? How did that come about?

I feel very proud and honored.  When they first contacted me, I did not believe it, but after a couple of conversations via email, I realized this was the real thing.  I am not sure how they got my name.  My guess would be they either saw my hats featured in Country Living Magazine a couple of months ago, or saw that I won the 2009 Hatty Award which is recognized internationally.