Ellen Christine Millinery

09/19/2008 Posted by jamianapuffington

“Eighteenth and Eight Avenue,” Valia told the driver getting back into the taxi after leaving the cd in the mailbox. “So close to home?” Greta asked. “Dah!” The taxi pulled up down the block from Ellen Christine’s Millinery shop. “Come,” Valia spoke in a perfect imitation of Garbo. “Be gentle,” Greta sighed. Valia took her hand and led her into the boutique, where they were greeted by the owner/designer. The brightly lit room was awash with gorgeous hats, a hat lover’s paradise, especially a woman’s hat lover. Whether you are a walking, talking, breating human being, or a fictional character in a novel like Valia and Greta above, if you are lucky enough to find Ellen Christine's shop, you are going to fall in love with it and her. I am going to perfectly honest with you, I have never met Ellen in person. I found her purely by chance searching for a Garbo Fedora one Saturday Morning while working on a novel. I loved what I saw on her site and decided to give her a call to ask permission to use her shop in the novel I was writing, to which she graciously agreed. One thing led to another and in short order, I was the proud owner of my own Garbo Fedora, custom tailored to fit my rather large cranium perfectly I might add. She currently has a Custom Cloche in the works for me, which has me a tad excited, but what really excites me is the prospect of my first visit to her gorgeous well stocked boutique. Every woman needs a hat, no, LOTS OF HATS, and Ellen's Boutique full of her own designs is sure to put you in a state of Hat Nirvana. Oh yes, to date, I have had six offers from others to buy the Garbova Fedora Ellen made for me. Ellen, when i finally make it to the Big Apple to pay you a visit, I promise I will NOT leave all the credit cards at home (teehee). Stay beautiful Jamie

09/01/2008 Posted by RosemaryPonzo

Ellen Christine is one of the most creative and innovative hat designers of our time. She mixes old with new and something magical happens. She is of the "Old Guard" yet she is open to jump into anything you may suggest while working with her on a custom hat.. In addition she collaborates with her clients and it's always a thrill to see the outcome! She lives in the highest octave of creativity, and I am so honored to wear her designs!

08/29/2008 Posted by AntoinetteSilicato1

In 1942, Dooley Wilson sang his smokey rendition of "As time Goes By" in the film "Casablanca" starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman in which to this day both song and film remain American classics. Think of the golden age of glamour and romance and think of the fashion dynamo Ellen Colon Lugo of Ellen Christine Millinery. Her amorousness of fashion and years of study and a life time of practice has given her rightful claim to the title "expert" in her field. In Ellen's newly remodeled boutique your senses will immediately be aroused and your visual imagination will to go wild. The classical music in the background makes for a perfect backcloth as you browse for that special hat. Expect a fashion history learning experience to go along with your purchase that will and should be treasured as an heir loom for generations to come. SHOCKING: that someone would find time in their lives to be so mean spirited and boring as to publicly intent to slander and defame another who has given of themselves. The two unworthy reviews read as spoiled brats lashing out for not getting their way. I have had Ellen work on projects with me for over 25 years and her professionalism and personalism has always been for the best of her customers.

Pros: Fashion at its best

Cons: Not having enough hats

06/25/2008 Posted by mrsvincent

because i am not a regular size, i had given up on finding something really special for my wedding. a friend referred me to this shop and i was able to find a magnificent vintage 20's dress that the proprietor altered to fit. a custom made coordinating headpiece made a perfect ensemble and i know that i was much more confident on my special day.

06/21/2008 Posted by kimmi123

great, eager service, as long as you are spending money...but beware, if you have a problem, the eager owner turns a different color, does not honor promises (for example, will tell you it is OK to bring back an item you are dissatisfied with, then, when you do, you get screamed at (in front of other customers!), and are told you took too long to come back (claiming you "disappeared"), and you are stuck with item. on top of this, you are sent nasty emails from the owner, telling you how to behave in her store, and that rather than resolving the fact that she has lost a customer with her attitude, says she is "giving up" trying to solve the issue. also, be willing to wait MONTHS for your hat to be finished- and you will NEVER hear from the store... you have to keep on her back. pros: nice hats. cons: nasty service, long delays in getting your hat.

06/17/2008 Posted by Crythy5

I spotted Ellen Christine's shop on Citysearch when looking for vintage clothing and hats. I visited the shop soon after and was immediately welcomed by Ellen. She makes you feel at home and her knowledge of her industry is very apparent. The hats were beautiful and if you don't see what you like she can make it for you. Ellen Christine Millinery is certainly a 1 of a kind shop not to be missed.

Pros: Ellen, The Shop

Cons: None

06/12/2008 Posted by louyhu

Strolling through Chelsea, my friend and I stumbled upon this lovely shop. Beautiful, vintage hats for all tastes. We met the owner, Ellen, who was more than eager to speak with us about her background and the various items in the shop. What a real nice New York experience.

Pros: the owner, the hats

06/05/2008 Posted by lamitin

I went to Ellen Christine to have my mother's wedding dress altered for my own upcoming wedding. This should've been a very positive experience. But unfortunately, the "3-month" process was a total nightmare from beginning to end. I was overcharged for the quality of work...Ellen did not make all of the changes to the dress that we discussed...I went to the shop 4 times thinking that it was the final fitting and that I would be able to leave with the dress in hand. However, there was always something wrong with it that I needed to point out to her. There were loose beads or even beads missing! One time, I went to try on the dress and there was a huge black stain that she said "must have happened at the cleaners". I found her lack of attention to detail and lack of sympathy for all of her mistakes completely frustrating. I DO NOT recommend going to this shop for alterations...especially if its for a special occasion.

Pros: Nothing

Cons: Everything

04/23/2008 Posted by marcipal

The retail palace of Dallas is good for many things, but for hats, nothing can top Ellen Christine in New York. Here's the difference: A Neiman Marcus hat says "dowager empress." An Ellen hat says "you are who you are, let's crown you." Whether you're a Barbie, a debbytant, a career girl or a congresswoman, Ellen herself will help you shape that personality. What I love about this store is the delightfully wicked way she listens to all of your protests of "what will people think?" and just keeps bringing hats from some enchanted backstage storeroom. If you don't see temptation when you first walk in, give her the old "dear me!" comment or two, and she'll play with you. You're not just buying a hat, you're having a New York experience, which is why you go to Gotham in the first place.

Pros: Personal service and attention from the woman who makes these timeless hats.

Cons: You can shop online, but you'll miss the engaging repartee.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

12/03/2006 Posted by blubird

There's no human figure in the world that she would have a hard time making beautiful and elegant. Her shop is like opening up your grandmother's jewelry box that never gets old: It's full of surprises. You'll find soemthing new with every trip. There's always a new hat, vest or necklace to try on. If you let her, she'll add a twist you'd never expect.