An Ensemble Without a Hat is Just an Outfit

By: Meaghan Monahan
Posted In: Entertainment

Since opening Edna Mae’s Millinery & Bridal Studio in 1989, local Newport

resident Jamie Kurtis has designed hats for two Presidential inaugurations, the

Kentucky Derby, Ascot and Cirque Du Soleil. Located at 140 Spring Street, Edna

Mae’s is named for Kurtis’ late Grandmother, Edna Mae Thorn, who grew up in a

time where no matter where you were going or what you were doing you wore a hat

to complete your ensemble. Kurtis displays and sells both her original work and

other designer’s work from all over the world in her studio and she designs customized pieces by appointment. Her designs usually begin when a customer wants a

hat to complement an outfit they have in mind or have purchased. Kurtis and the

customers work with one another to create a custom designed piece. She creates

everything from everyday hats to handmade tiaras and crowns. Outside of work

she enjoys writing, singing, and dabbling in different mediums, in terms of the

arts, but her first priority is taking care of her young daughter. Starting off

a Friday morning at the studio with appointment right off the bat, Kurtis took

time out of her busy schedule to discuss her passion of millinery and bridal

design.

Can you explain your inspiration behind opening this shop?

“Inspiration would have been, probably the catalyst would be I think just the change in women’s

fashions and an appreciation for fine millenary which occurred about, I’d want

to say, about 15 to 20 years ago things started changing where women were, you

know, coming back to hats.”

Did the shop just begin as hats and expand to a bridal studio or was it

initially both businesses?

“No it started as hats, fine millinery, yup. And then Newport became such a huge destination for weddings and I think more importantly it was probably Vera Wang who really recreated the bridal industry itself. All of her things, her gowns became beautiful, they weren’t just

fluffy. And I just think they were hideous in the 70’s and 80’s, you know. So

when things started getting really much more of an elegant, sophisticated

statement I started doing a lot of bridal headdress.”

Has fashion design always been a passion of yours since you were little?

“I don’t think so, actually. Not fashion design, but design in terms of colors,

texture, fabric types. That’s always been of interest.”

Where do find inspiration for your designs?

“From the past. Definitely from the past, old pieces. I learned to design hats based on just taking apart old pieces. Seeing how they were constructed, how a feather was curled, how a flower was made without plastic, things like that.”

Can you describe your favorite hat you’ve ever designed and what it was for?

“I have so many favorite designs and treatments, but I would say probably the most

meaningful hat was a piece that I designed after my grandmother passed away.

And it went along with an instillation I did for an art show and it was a poem

in memory of my Grandmother. So the piece that I designed was very bird-like,

bright crimson feathers, and I really felt that it was really her persona in

hat form.”

I understand your hats have been designed for the Kentucky Derby, and two

Presidential inaugurations, how did it make you feel being asked to design for

these events?

“Well I’m always honored whenever somebody asks me for whatever

event, whether it be their wedding or some important moment in there life. So,

you know, it’s just an honor to just be asked I think.