Mildred Blount
The Milliner with the Golden Hands
A Hat Competition Presented by the Milliners Guild
The Milliners Guilds’ second hat design competition!
We are proud to highlight another American milliner whose career took her from NYC to Hollywood, creating both fashion and costume hats for celebrities like Madame C.J. Walker, Gloria Vanderbilt, Marian Anderson, Joan Crawford, Ginger Rogers, and Hattie McDaniel. Some of her best-known hats were in Gone with the Wind – uncredited.
She was also a trailblazer, as the first African American member of the Motion Pictures Costume Union, a female business owner, and in her work with the Urban league for inclusion of POC and women.
The Challenge
From film to fashion!
Entrants choose a hat from a film of the 30s, 40s, or 50s and designed a fashion hat inspired by the costume. You can see to the left the “Green Curtain” costume hat Scarlet wore in “Gone with the Wind.” Click right to see the the fashion version sold in department stores at the same time. Both hats were designed by Mildred Blount under her employer’s label John Frederics.
Meet the Judges
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Peggy Dillard-Toone
SUPER MODEL
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Justin Smith
MILLINERY DESIGNER
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Sarah Sokol
MILLINERY DESIGNER
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Audrey Smaltz
FASHION SHOW DIRECTOR
The Prizes
$1,050 Custom Millinery Tools from Decou
Interview with Millinery.Info
$300 Gift Certificate from Manhatco
1/yr subscription Studio+ from Hat Academy
$175 Vintage Flowers from M&S Schmalberg
$250 Cash Prize from The Headwear Association
DeCou First Prize
$300 AUD Gift Certificate from
Hat Blocks Australia
$200 AUD Gift Certificate from BUnique
$300 Gift Certificate from World Hat Co.
$301 Gift Certificate from Millinery Meet-up
1/yr subscription to The Hat Magazine
1/yr subscription to Hat Talk Magazine
$150 Cash Prize from the Headwear Association
Second Prize
1/yr subscription to Hat Talk Magazine
£100 Gift Certificate from Guy Morse-Brown
$100 Gift Certificate from Judith M
6 Velour Hoods from Millinery Warehouse
$100 Cash Prize from the Headwear Association
Third Prize
The People’s Choice Winner will receive a signed copy of Anne Tomlin’s book Making Silk Flowers and 1/yr subscription to Hat Talk Magazine
Meet The Sponsors
Star Sponsor DeCou Studio
Hand Crafted Millinery Tools by an American Contemporary Crafts Artisan.
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BUnique
MILLINERY SUPPLIES
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M&S Schmalberg
CUSTOM FABRIC FLOWERS
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Hat Talk
MILLINERY MAGAZINE
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The Headwear Association
TRADE ASSOCIATION
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Hat Blocks Australia
CUSTOM HATBLOCKS
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World Hat Co
HAT BODY SUPPLIES
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Millinery Meetup
MILLINERY CLASSES
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Millinery Info
PODCASTS & RESOURCES
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The Hat Magazine
Millinery Magazine
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Manhatco
MILLINERY SUPPLY
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Anne Tomlin
MAKING SILK FLOWERS
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Hat Academy
HAT MAKING COURSES STUDIO+
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Judith M
MILLINERY SUPPLY HOUSE
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Guy Morse-Brown
HANDCRAFTED BLOCKS
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Millinery Warehouse
HAT MAKING SUPPLIES