The most important rule about wearing a hat is you have to wear the hat, the hat doesn’t wear you.
Such simple, yet sage advice comes from Galdys Tamez, the owner of the downtown Los Angeles Arts District fixture and celebrity favorite Gladys Tamez Millinery.
“You need to wear the hat, it gives you confidence,” Tamez explains. “And you need to have confidence.”
Earlier this fall, Tamez reopened her redesigned space. What was formerly just a workshop and showroom has expanded to include a functioning retail space for DTLA dwellers to peruse (and purchase) her coveted, handmade hat collections.
Designing since 2012, Tamez launched her business in 2014 with the goal of creating a contemporary art-inspired luxury product, handmade by experienced craftspeople. Gladys Tamez Millinery’s high standard of design excellence has garnered its namesake a loyal A-list clientele.
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It’s almost guaranteed you’ve seen Tamez’ work given she designed Lady Gaga’s emblematic, pink cowboy hat for her Joanne era. Other celebrity GTM fans include Beyoncé, Kylie Jenner, Jennifer Lopez, Lil Nas X, LeBron James and Maluma. One recent collaboration included working with Houston native Megan Thee Stallion on a cowboy-esque hat.
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Much of Hollywood may move with careful calculation, but the expansion of Tamez’ star-studded client roster was completely organic, albeit immediate and explosive. Johnny Depp was one of her very first star clients.
“I guess he put me on the map,” Tamez reflects. “Everybody was calling me and I was like, ‘Oh wow, I’m so new.’ But I did it. I started producing for all these people that call me around the world.’”
The refurbished GTM uplifts Tamez’ philosophy that a fine hat is essential to personal style and that no outfit is complete without one. Designed by Tamez herself, the clean interior allows the hats to be the center of the show, all accented by vintage lighting and complemented by mid-century furniture by Corbusier and contemporary pieces by Sami Hayek and Minotti.
From the outside, the retail space’s facade is far bolder, speaking to Tamez’ warm, lively aura. Revamped by Guerin Design, the storefront features colorful, abstract designs that capture the eye of passing pedestrians and GTM fans alike.
“I started noticing people want to walk out with the hat, want to wear it immediately,” Tamez says of her decision to incorporate the boutique. “The Arts District is more alive, there’s more restaurants… [just] blocks away from me.”
“I was thinking about when COVID’s going to end, I want something more fun to offer to my clients,” she adds. “Of course, we’re still in COVID… [but] this space is really big and I was thinking clients can come in and then we can be at a distance, we can wear masks, we can keep working here.”
Tamez knows a hat is timeless, so while personal style and needs are taken into consideration, she puts to use her expertise and guides clients to what hat will work best with their face shape, skin tone and hair color.
Her FW21 White Winter Collection is anything but minimalist. Inspired by the blankets of fresh snow she saw on a trip last year, this series of hats captures the inherent elegance of winter time. The gold chain-featuring Iggy comes in multiple colors and is a collection favorite. If opting for something chic, yet cozy, the line features a fur beret and bucket hat.
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Whatever the choice, all TMZ products are akin to a piece of art. Likening her hats to a sculpture, Tamez says just the molding process can take five hours.
“I see the amount of work in each hat. I always tell my clients: ‘Treat it like it’s your Chanel bag.’”
See also: America's Next Top Model's Nigel Barker Reveals How To Take a Fire Instagram Photo
Photography by: Courtesy Gladyz Tamez
