Mardi Gras Millinery 2020

As I sit here in my millinery studio in New Orleans in a state mandated stay in place order, all I can think about is my cancelled Spring events! It is hard to stay positive when you know that Spring is your busiest hat making time of the year, and I can’t make hats for luncheons, races, garden parties, museum fundraisers, and so much more. As we all collectively wait for our lives to go back to a new normal and for states to open up, I can only pray that we will have events this Summer/Fall. This article is not about quarantine or cancelations. This article is about Mardi Gras Day 2020.  

In New Orleans, Mardi Gras Day is the biggest day of the year. For locals, Mardi Gras is more than Bourbon St. and catching beads. Mardi Gras is about making art, costumes and magic. Mardi Gras 2020 was a huge game changer for me professionally. I was hired to create hats for the Queen of Mardi Gras, her mother and her court. I also had the good fortune to be able to collaborate with two local dress designers Suzanne Perron and Kathleen Van Horn. We worked together for half a year making sure the hats matched the suits perfectly. I was presented with a new challenge of having to hire assistant and worked many long hours blocking and trimming hats in order to meet the deadline. It was important for my hat designs to be a reflection of my aesthetic, but most importantly I wanted to capture my clients personality and style.

I started working on the Mardi Gras hat orders in September 2019 and finished all the orders a week before Mardi Gras day. It was so rewarding every time I closed a hatbox with a finished custom hat. On Mardi Gras day seeing all the ladies dressed up in their suits and hats was such an emotional and proud moment for me.

I’m so thankful for this wonderful experience, for the support of my family and friends.

Watch the toast below.

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Bespoke Louisiana Inauguration 2020

This past winter I had the privilege to be hired to create a bespoke hat for Mrs. Donna Bel Edwards. She would be wearing the hat to her husband’s inauguration on Jan 11, 2020 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I met with Mrs. Edwards at her home in the Governor’s mansion before Christmas and discussed a hat shape, material and flowers for her custom hat.

See full inauguration images here

We agreed on a royal blue felt color and I proposed custom flowers that would have an ombre color effect that would go from teal-royal blue. I was super pleased with the outcome and Mrs. Edwards. I also tried to buy all my materials in the US.

We got very lucky because it stopped raining right before they came out for the event. Which made all of us very happy.

Materials:

• Velour royal blue felt

• Handmade custom flowers from M&S Schmalberg

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NolaAdore Magazine: Maria Etkind brings old world skill to her custom hats

I was so excited to be featured in NolaAdore magazine this past Fall 2019

While headbands have made a triumphant comeback, we're looking towards another headpiece. Hats and fascinators bring old world skill and design to the forefront of any look, while instantly upgrading an outfit for a special event. Maria Etkind, a New Orleans-based milliner, has found success in making hats for the women of New Orleans and their various events, including brunches in the French Quarter, horse races, and of course, Mardi Gras. Read More