A milliner is someone who designs, makes, or sells women's hats. The word comes from Milan, Italy, which was famous centuries ago for its fashionable accessories and fine ribbons.

In the 1800s and early 1900s, nearly every woman wore a hat when going out, so milliners were important craftspeople in every town. They shaped felt, sewed fabric, attached feathers and flowers, and created everything from simple everyday bonnets to elaborate hats for special occasions. A skilled milliner understood which styles flattered different face shapes and which materials worked best for different seasons.

Today, milliners still create hats for special events like weddings, horse races like the Kentucky Derby, and royal ceremonies. If you've seen photos of fancy British events where women wear dramatic, artistic hats, those were likely made by professional milliners. The craft requires skill in sewing, design, and understanding how different fabrics and structures work together.

You might encounter the word in historical fiction or period movies, where hat shops and milliners appear as part of everyday life. In Little Women, the March sisters visit a milliner’s shop, and in many Victorian-era stories, young women work as milliners to support themselves.