The Millinery Lesson

Don’t miss this rare screening of ‘The Millinery Lesson’ – an exploration of Royal milliner and influential teacher Marie O’Regan’s extraordinary life.

Born in Turkey in 1925, Marie’s millinery achievements took her to Parisian ateliers Madame Susie, Legroux Soeurs, Maude Roser and Gilbert Orcel. In 1959, she moved to London where she worked for Otto Lucas and Dior before starting a teaching career at the London College of Fashion and the Royal College of Art. Her later freelance work consisted of hats for Philip Somerville, Freddie Fox and for Ian Thomas’s outfits for Queen Elizabeth II. Marie’s students include top UK milliners and British Hat Guild members Edwina Ibbotson, Jane Taylor and Rachel Skinner.

Her life so intrigued neighbour and filmmaker Mike Southon that he spent two years, including her 90th birthday, gathering footage for this exceptional film. He says:

“It celebrates Marie’s commitment to her art and her extraordinary life, living in Paris in the heyday of couture, designing for Dior, making frequent trips to Buckingham Palace. She passed a wealth of knowledge to generations of milliners at the London College of Fashion, Royal College of Art, and in lessons around her kitchen table in Ealing.”

Come and join us for this celebration and tribute to Marie O’Regan, Honorary Member of The British Hat Guild. 

Hat Magazine founder and British Hat Guild secretary, Carole Denford, will give an introduction before the screening about Marie O’Regan, and discuss how she pioneered millinery and teaching, and pushed for innovation in her work.

Terry Weston, a student of Marie O’ Regan from 2017 to 2022 and textile teacher at London College of Fashion and Central School of Art and Design, will conclude the event with a closing speech.

Image courtesy of Mike Southon