Our Featured Milliners program is a lively celebration of the rich tradition and playful spirit of Derby fashion. This program is where the art of hat-making meets the magic of the Derby, shining a spotlight on milliners whose creations are more than just accessories - they’re iconic pieces of Derby history. Each creation tells a story, and through our partnership, we keep the lively legacy of Derby fashion alive, ensuring that every Derby day is as stylish and spirited as the last.
Submissions to be a 2025 Featured Milliner have closed. Thank you to all who have applied. Finalists will be contacted soon.
Meet Our 2024 Milliners
Christine A. Moore hails from the fashion capitol of the country, New York City, but she is no stranger to Kentucky. She has been a Featured Milliner for the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve for many years and now joins the Kentucky Derby Museum’s Featured Milliner group as well. Previously, Moore has been recognized as the official milliner for the Breeders’ Cup, the Iroquois Steeplechase and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, as well as featured designer at the Preakness Stakes, Keeneland, and the Florida Derby. Her uniquely-crafted designs have been worn by countless celebrities and media personalities including Katy Perry, Jennifer Lopez, Jewel, Al Roker and Deborah Roberts.
The Hat Doctor is more than just a fun name for a millinery business. Ilana Kogan, owner and sole milliner, is also a full-time radiologist! Kogan is originally from New York City and moved to Kentucky in 2005 to attend the University of Louisville School of Medicine. Her business began when she started creating Derby hats for her medical school classmates by reconstructing and embellishing hats on students’ budgets. Now, years later, her handmade, one-of-a-kind designs showcase her love for creative silhouettes and delicately embroidered details. The Hat Doctor designs have been featured in The Voice of Louisville, Tops Magazine, Today’s Woman, Elizabethtown Lifestyle and Garden & Gun Magazines.
Master Milliner and owner of Louisville-based Formé Millinery Jenny Pfanenstiel will return as a Featured Milliner for the Kentucky Derby Museum. Pfanenstiel’s one-of-a-kind pieces have been worn by some of the world’s most fashionable people including Former First Lady Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey and Madonna just to name a few. Her work incorporates traditional millinery techniques and she is known for her unique practice of sculpting hats on a braid machine from the 1800s. Pfanenstiel is also a Featured Milliner for the 147th Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve.
Louisville-native Mary Julia Kaiser, is owner and designer of derbyologie—a line of show-stopping fascinators featuring a spectrum of styles from graceful to gutsy! Raised in the Bluegrass, a love for all things Derby started young, dating back to the quintessential Kindergarten Derby. Inspired by Kentucky’s southern charm and Brooklynn’s urban flare, hat designs mesh the traditional millinery materials with modern textures. Generous feathery, imported fabrics & hand sewn details create a signature artisan flavor.
Derbyologie has been tickled to dress the heads of clients at the Royal Ascot in London, Queen’s Tea in London, Melbourne Cup in Australia and countless locals (with really great taste). And, sure is having a ball doing it!
Melissa Huff, a Louisville native, has been attending The Kentucky Derby since she was a kid with her family. She has a fashion merchandising degree and loves crafting and was inspired by the beautiful hats and fascinators she would see every year during Derby season, so she decided to start making them in 2017 for her friends and eventually formed her hat business, Mad Hatter 502. After that she decided to open a boutique named Mamili, located in the NuLu Marketplace on March 7, 2020, so she could provide a head-to-toe outfit for ladies and fedoras, ties, socks and more for men during Derby. She was then able to open Mad Hatter 502 located behind Mamili in 2020 and she has been very successful with both stores. She has been featured in Tops Magazine, Today’s Woman Magazine, The Voice Tribune and has been featured on Great Day Live on WHAS and WLKY and she sells her headpieces and other Derby related merchandise in the AC Hotel in NuLu during Derby week. She has also had her headpieces in numerous Derby fashion shows such as Down with Derby, Today’s Woman International Fashion Show, Rescue and Roses Fashion show among others and she has styled numerous newscasters for Derby week.