Milliner Gigi Burris Opens Up Shop with a Chic Cocktail Party

Thursday night, in her brand new jewel box of a shop in New York, the milliner Gigi Burris brought a chic crowd together for cocktails on the pedestrian-only Pell Street in Chinatown.

The downtown scene was in full force with creatives and designers, including Bach Mai, Jonathan Cohen, Maxwell Osborne, Lizzie and Kathryn Fortunato, and Victor Glemaud in attendance, all marveling at the signature sculpted hats on display. At guests scattered throughout the cozy space, they enjoyed creme puffs from Burris’s favorite local Chinatown spot, Bakery Keki, plus a selection of locally crafted beverages, including non-alcoholic Aplos and natural wine from Swick Vineyards.

Fans of the brand–some wearing her creations–were happy to see all of the hats in their glory, hanging on the walls and positioned throughout the decadent little space. A celebratory feeling was in the air–this is Gigi Burris Millinery’s first store, after all. Wandering inside the exposed brick walls, with a turn-of-the-century postage desk, and deep velvet cushioned bench window seats, there were plenty of things to look at. “Something that warms my heart is watching the emotional reaction when someone finds the perfect hat,” Burris told us. “Hats are such a personal and transformative accessory. I am thrilled that we can now welcome people into our world and help them find a piece that offers them joy and confidence,"

Toward the back of the shop, guests gathered at the atelier area where the brand proudly set up shop displays deeply related to the art of hatmaking. Think: meticulously crafted bespoke silk faille hat boxes created by a multi-generational hat box manufacturer and wooden custom hanging hat racks done by a local Brooklyn woodworker. The on-site customization area, with all its ribbons, embellishments, and treats, was another fun topic of conversation. All in all, it was the perfect evening for hat lovers.