A couture milliner is a rare gem. Hard to find, but once you do, you can fully appreciate the exquisite workmanship with all of your heart. Leah C. is a true artist and does some of the most amazing couture head pieces and hats. For a stylist like myself, her inspirational hats always add glamour and chicness to any shoot. We caught up with the designer to photograph some of her incredible fall creations and to talk Vogue, The Great Gatsby, and Irving Penn.
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Leah C Night Bird with Silk Veil
Dress: Cheng-Huai Chuang
Gloves: Carolina Amato
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Leah C Magenta and Orange Soft Geometric Evening Comb
Dress: Robert Daines
Gloves: Carolina Amato
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Leah C Red Velvet Rose and Feather Cocktail Hat
Dress: Cheng-Huai Chuang
Bracelet: Cannon
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Leah C Pale Pink and Black Raffia Mini Boater
Dress: Nicole Miller Atelier
Gloves: LaCrasia
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Leah C Feather Peony with French Veil
Dress: David Meister
Bracelet: Cannon -
Leah C Tri-Color Homage to the 1940s Cocktail Hat
Dress: Nha Khanh
Gloves: Carolina Amato -
Leah C Gold and Black Veiled Cocktail Hat
Dress: Stop Staring
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Leah C Tri-Color Homage to the 1940s Cocktail Hat
Dress: Nha Khanh
Gloves: Carolina Amato
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Leah C Night Bird with Silk Veil
Dress: Cheng-Huai Chuang
Gloves: Carolina Amato
-
Leah C Magenta and Orange Soft Geometric Evening Comb
Dress: Robert Daines
Gloves: Carolina Amato
-
Leah C Red Velvet Rose and Feather Cocktail Hat
Dress: Cheng-Huai Chuang
Bracelet: Cannon
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Leah C Pale Pink and Black Raffia Mini Boater
Dress: Nicole Miller Atelier
Gloves: LaCrasia
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Leah C Feather Peony with French Veil
Dress: David Meister
Bracelet: Cannon -
Leah C Tri-Color Homage to the 1940s Cocktail Hat
Dress: Nha Khanh
Gloves: Carolina Amato -
Leah C Gold and Black Veiled Cocktail Hat
Dress: Stop Staring
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Leah C Tri-Color Homage to the 1940s Cocktail Hat
Dress: Nha Khanh
Gloves: Carolina Amato
-
Leah C Night Bird with Silk Veil
Dress: Cheng-Huai Chuang
Gloves: Carolina Amato
-
Leah C Magenta and Orange Soft Geometric Evening Comb
Dress: Robert Daines
Gloves: Carolina Amato
-
Leah C Red Velvet Rose and Feather Cocktail Hat
Dress: Cheng-Huai Chuang
Bracelet: Cannon
-
Leah C Pale Pink and Black Raffia Mini Boater
Dress: Nicole Miller Atelier
Gloves: LaCrasia
-
Leah C Feather Peony with French Veil
Dress: David Meister
Bracelet: Cannon -
Leah C Tri-Color Homage to the 1940s Cocktail Hat
Dress: Nha Khanh
Gloves: Carolina Amato -
Leah C Gold and Black Veiled Cocktail Hat
Dress: Stop Staring
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Leah C Tri-Color Homage to the 1940s Cocktail Hat
Dress: Nha Khanh
Gloves: Carolina Amato
Dress: Cheng-Huai Chuang
Gloves: Carolina Amato
Dress: Robert Daines
Gloves: Carolina Amato
Dress: Cheng-Huai Chuang
Bracelet: Cannon
Dress: Nicole Miller Atelier
Gloves: LaCrasia
Dress: David Meister
Bracelet: Cannon
Dress: Nha Khanh
Gloves: Carolina Amato
Dress: Stop Staring
Dress: Nha Khanh
Gloves: Carolina Amato
Dress: Cheng-Huai Chuang
Gloves: Carolina Amato
Dress: Robert Daines
Gloves: Carolina Amato
Dress: Cheng-Huai Chuang
Bracelet: Cannon
Dress: Nicole Miller Atelier
Gloves: LaCrasia
Dress: David Meister
Bracelet: Cannon
Dress: Nha Khanh
Gloves: Carolina Amato
Dress: Stop Staring
Dress: Nha Khanh
Gloves: Carolina Amato
Dress: Cheng-Huai Chuang
Gloves: Carolina Amato
Dress: Robert Daines
Gloves: Carolina Amato
Dress: Cheng-Huai Chuang
Bracelet: Cannon
Dress: Nicole Miller Atelier
Gloves: LaCrasia
Dress: David Meister
Bracelet: Cannon
Dress: Nha Khanh
Gloves: Carolina Amato
Dress: Stop Staring
Dress: Nha Khanh
Gloves: Carolina Amato
Cannon: When was the first time you touched a hat?
Leah C: Well, my mom had some very cool late 60s hats which of course were part of our dress up wardrobe but what I really got into were all the trimmings in her sewing cabinet! I think that hats were important to me growing up, to help achieve the looks we saw in Elle and Vogue. For instance, a simple black straw 80s big brim boater would get a ribbon treatment added and voilà! I attained the chic Spanish dancer hat with the white tank and high-waisted wide-leg sailor pants as seen in Elle.
C: Where did you study?
LC: I began my millinery studies at Moore College of Art in Philadelphia under Mr. Alzie, who brought us up to New York City for supply shopping. The man who sold me my first felt 18 years ago is still a wonderful friend and now we work in the same building! I also studied at FIT and took all the courses they had to offer in millinery. I did work under Patricia Underwood for two years, which I like to consider my graduate study years and at the Metropolitan Opera's costume department with one of my teachers, which was magical. Since then there has been a lot of self teaching and research. It did all full circle around and I designed and taught a millinery course at Parsons School of Design for three years.
Via: Milliner Leah C's Birds of a Feather: The Cannon Canon