Milli Starr was conceived from a deep love of hats, handiwork, and fashion. Owner and head milliner Laura Del Villaggio earned a Certificate in Millinery from the Fashion Institute of Technology in 1999, while concurrently studying for a graduate degree in Museum Studies: Costume & Textiles.

The millinery atelier is located in Austin, Texas. It is brimming with antique and custom wooden hat blocks, Victorian feathers and luxurious ribbons. Millinery has been Laura’s full-time focus since 2012 and she enjoys making hats for an international clientele of hat lovers. Studio visits and custom consultations are available by appointment.

Milli Starr is known for exquisite craftsmanship and a vintage-inspired elegance that complements a modern wardrobe. Original hats have been spotted in print publications, on the runway, stage, and screen and at horse racing events worldwide. HATalk magazine (UK) awarded Laura 2nd place and 3rd place prizes in their millinery competition in 2019 and 2105. Both years, she was the only participating American milliner to be recognized.

Laura has been teaching group and private millinery classes for 10 years. Her students come from all over the USA , Canada and Mexico. Many of her former students now own millinery businesses and/or hat shops. Details on hat courses are here: https://www.millistarr.com/pages/millinery-classes