The new Dee’s? The Hat Shoppe has everything to make your own Kentucky Derby hat

FEB
21

By Kirby Adams – Reporter, Louisville Courier Journal
February 21, 2024

https://www.courier-journal.com/story/entertainment/events/kentucky-derby/hats/2024/02/21/the-hat-shoppe-has-everything-to-make-your-own-kentucky-derby-hat/72187820007/

A master milliner of couture hats who is also a five-time featured milliner of the Kentucky Derby has stepped up to save the day for thousands of local race fans.

Jenny Pfanenstiel could almost hear an audible gasp spread through the Louisville community in August 2023 when Dee’s, a popular destination for DIY hat makers and designers announced it was permanently closing after 52 years in the hat, craft, and decor business.

With the 150th Kentucky Derby coming up on May 4, Louisville customers were frantic about where they would find their hat-making supplies or work with an affordable hat maker to create their Kentucky Derby hat or fascinator.

“We heard loud and clear that people in Louisville were upset when Dee’s closed and we thought we could help to fill that void,” Pfanenstiel told the Courier Journal. “Because I have Formé Millinery Co., a couture hat design boutique on Main Street, and Judith M. Millinery, a millinery supply shop in La Grange, Kentucky, we already had relationships with manufacturers to buy the raw materials and we thought ‘why not open a shop to fill the space left when Dee’s closed?'”

In November 2023, Pfanenstiel opened The Hat Shoppe in the Shelbyville Road Plaza, 4600 Shelbyville Road. The veteran milliner intentionally found a storefront close to where Dee’s was formerly located.

“We decided to make The Hat Shoppe a year-round interactive workshop experience for everyone,” Pfanenstiel said. “We have ready-made hats or the supplies to make your own hat, for men, women and children plus workshops and other fun interactive experiences.”

In addition to every supply a DIY hat maker could need, like hat and fascinator bases in a rainbow of color and size options, customers can select embellishments from an extensive flower bar or if it tickles your fancy, a feather collection of multi-colored lengths, shapes and sizes.

“If you are someone who likes to do it yourself, you can pick up everything you need and take it home,” she said. “Or you can set up an appointment with one of our hat designers and they will work with you one-on-one helping you pick things out and they will put it together for you.”

Not quite as colorful but every bit as extensive, the men’s section of the store is stocked with straw fedoras, porkpie, tribly, and boater-style hats plus feather embellishment to coordinate with your Kentucky Derby outfit. Pfanenstiel also carries felt Derby bowlers, newsboy, steampunk, flat brim and baseball-style caps as well as hats for fishing made by well-known brands Stetson, Conner, Peter Grim, and more.

“I would say since we opened in November, 70% of our customers have been men,” the milliner told the Courier Journal. “I don’t know if they are talking about us at barbershops or cigar bars or wherever, but we love that so many guys are showing up.”

Although Pfanenstiel is a celebrated milliner with high-profile customers ordering handmade sculpted couture hats from her Formé Millinery Co., she’s a gracious business owner who doesn’t balk at sharing the spotlight. She’s invited local milliners to display their collections at her St. Matthews store, which means if you are shopping for an affordable Kentucky Derby hat, you may find it ready and waiting for you at The Hat Shoppe

Now that it’s Kentucky Derby season, Pfanenstiel is sharing her time and talent (between creating custom couture hats) by offering in-depth courses at The Hat Shoppe where she teaches everything from intricate ribbon work and sculpting horsehair to making feather flowers from scratch.

I recently attended one of her workshops where we learned to make feather mounts. A few of the attendees were hat designers who wanted to hone their skills. A couple of us were beginners and, if I am being honest, I had never heard of a feather mount until Pfanenstiel announced we would be learning to make them in class.

She patiently explained how to build a bendable feather embellishment to add to a hat or fascinator by layering dozens of feathers to a base made of wire using a glue gun, a tiny flat iron and our imagination.

When the hour-and-a-half class was over, I had only glued my fingers to my pant leg once and had made a sweet blue and green feather mount to take home. More importantly, the process gave me a better understanding of the work and time that goes into putting together a beautiful custom-made Derby hat.

While Derby weekend is the most popular time to wear a hat in Kentucky, Pfanenstiel would like to help change that tradition.

Inside The Hat Shoppe is an area called The Hat Bar where customers can build felt hats complete with branding, and embellishments. Pfanenstiel said it’s a fun way to spend an afternoon or evening with a few friends making something with your hands you can then take home and wear. She also offers workshops to make hats that are based on a theme like Barbie or ahead of an upcoming concert like Taylor Swift or Stevie Nicks.

In addition to The Hat Bar and the variety of ready-made hats for men, the flower bar, the wall of feathers and the large selection of bases for women’s hats, The Hat Shoppe offers precious and whimsical hats for children and infants. The workshop room can also be reserved for hat-making parties and special occasions.

“We want people to enjoy the hat process and that’s why we’ve created these hat experiences,” she said. “People come to Kentucky for bourbon tours and conventions and we know sometimes people want to do something different and creative and that’s what we do here.”

For more information on The Hat Shoppe’s hours, location and offerings, visit thehatshoppelouisville.com.