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‘It’s All About Attitude’ At UES Hat Shop Suzanne Couture Millinery

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – At Suzanne Couture Millinery on the Upper East Side, the hats are as detailed as works of art.

Golden butterflies

A post d by Suzanne Couture Millinery (@suzannehats) on Jan 21, 2019 at 2:14pm PST

“Most of my hats are special occasion hats,” said owner Suzanne Newman, who handles every aspect of custom hat-making from design to weaving.

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The hats are in highest demand for events such as the Kentucky Derby, the Royal Ascot, and the Central Park Conservancy’s Hat Luncheon.

Stunning as usual at conservancy luncheon

A post d by Suzanne Couture Millinery (@suzannehats) on May 3, 2017 at 11:59am PDT

“March, April, and May are the three busiest months of the year because of the weddings, the luncheons, the horse races,” she said.

Some of her hats are worn to royal affairs.

“I have had a couple of hats go to Meghan Markle’s wedding and Eugenie’s wedding,” she said.

Princess Eugenie’s wedding , Cute capture including Burgundy Hat. #hats #style #custom made #millinery

A post d by Suzanne Couture Millinery (@suzannehats) on Oct 13, 2018 at 4:13am PDT

Newman says that her prices, which start around $400, reflect the caliber of the craftsmanship.

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“They’re all one of a kind, and nothing’s mass-produced,” she said.

Newman’s collection ranges from the understated to the dramatic.

A custom order #couture #millinery #couturemillinery #hats

A post d by Suzanne Couture Millinery (@suzannehats) on Aug 17, 2017 at 2:46pm PDT

“What you wear to a horse race can be much more elaborate than what you wear out to a luncheon or dinner.”

She hopes the wearer feels confident in a Suzanne hat.

“It’s something fun and creative to wear and show your individuality,” she said.

Her custom designs take into account both personal style and the dimensions of the client’s head.

“I am able very quickly to decipher which hat will look good on a certain person,” she said.

Yasmin Petty – in a Suzanne hat arriving in Vienna for the Life Ball

A post d by Suzanne Couture Millinery (@suzannehats) on May 20, 2015 at 12:46pm PDT

And with some styles, you can’t go wrong.

“A woman always looks lovely in a big-brimmed hat,” she said.

There is etiquette associated with headwear, for instance, at a wedding.

“I think you can’t be there and outshine the bride,” she said.

Functionality is key.

“You don’t wear a hat to a dinner where the brim of the hat exce the width of your shoulders so that the waiter bumps into you, or you bump into the person next to you. You don’t wear a big hat to the theater so nobody can see behind you,” she said. “That’s what gives hats a bad name is when you’re wearing the wrong hat with the wrong outfit to the wrong occasion.”

Styles tend to fall in and out of favor.

“Whatever Chanel puts on the runway is what everybody wants,” she said.

Even the way a hat is worn can change—a boater hat, traditionally perched toward the forehead, is now often worn on the back of the head.

“I think Coco Chanel would turn over in her grave if she saw that,” she said.

As trends come and go, overall interest seems to be growing.

Hot lips. #teaatthePlaza. #millinery #hats #madeinNYC #madeinUSA #couture. #couturehats

A post d by Suzanne Couture Millinery (@suzannehats) on Dec 28, 2018 at 4:56pm PST

“There’s much more interest in hats now than ten years ago,” she said.

She credits stars like Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, and Lady Gaga for popularizing creative headwear.

But it’s not just for celebrities—Newman says hats are for everyone.

“It’s all about attitude,” she said.

Suzanne Couture Millinery 136 E 61st Street

New York, NY 10065

(212) 593-3232

https://www.suzannehats.com/

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