2026 Design Award

Julia Watson

Tracey Tau

Rose Hudson

Catherine Storm

Lynette Lim

Christine Waring

Sue Younis

Robynne Dowd

Felicity Northeast

Kelly Maskell

Winner

Rose Hudson ‘Grimhilde’

I always preferred the villains, the characters, the oddballs. They seemed so much more interesting to me as a child than the saccharine sweet princesses and good fairies.

I present to you Grimhilde, the wicked Queen of Snow White, the one with the talking mirror and the poisoned apple.

Enjoy!

Second Place

Catherine Storm ‘Spellbound’

Spellbound captures the moment a spell takes hold – when the ordinary is transformed into the enchanted.

An intricate lattice of gold wire forms a rhythmic pattern of triangles and diamonds, suggesting invisible threads of magic that bind, shift and move. As light plays across the metallic framework, reflections and shadow create a sense of movement, as though the spell is still unfolding and the composition balances tension and control, suspending the wearer within a charged moment of enchantment. A softly shaped base anchors the piece, providing balance and wearability, while allowing the upper form to remain light, expressive and alive.

Third Place

Tracey Tau ‘Where the Ocean Dreams’

‘Where the Ocean Dreams’ is an invitation to the seabed where myth and Mother Nature shimmer together.

This sculptural Clam Shell headpiece cradles a hidden world of iridescence, soft pastels and light-catching textures, all while mimicking currents in motion.

The work explores enchantment as a quiet, immersive state – where the ocean holds untold stories. It asks us to listen beneath the surface, to imagine ecosystems dreaming and to recognise our responsibility to protect their delicate magic.

Patron’s Pick

Lynette Lim ‘Bloomspell’

Millinery Australia’s Patron, renowned milliner Mr Stephen Jones OBE, selects his favourite Design Award entry each year from the Top 10 finalists.

This headpiece is inspired by my collection of colourful vintage and floral scarves, reimagined through an enchanted lens. I was drawn to their flowing forms, layered patterns and vivid hues, transforming these qualities into something dreamlike and otherworldly.

The piece evokes a sense of hidden gardens and quiet magic, where nostalgia meets fantasy. Rooted in my love of vintage aesthetics, nature and colour, this work invites the wearer into an imagined realm, where beauty feels both timeless and spellbound.

Photographer’s Pic

Jo Peterson ‘Kaleidoscope’

Millinery Australia photographer, Richard Shaw, captures 1000’s of beautiful images of Design Award entries and chooses his favourite for the Photographer’s Pic Award.

One of my favourite childhood memories was playing with my cousin’s kaleidoscope. The excitement of turning it slowly and watching colours, shapes and patterns constantly shift into something new and unexpected was mesmerising.

That same sense of enchanted wonder is captured in my Design Award entry, Kaleidoscope using intricate hand-rolled (quilled) paper details along with pearl and crystal accents to create shifting patterns, while the ‘crazy wire’ edging generates the illusion of rotation and a subtle touch of magic.

People’s Choice – Joint Winner

Sue Younis ‘Enchanté par la Mer’

Enchanté par la Mer explores the enchantment of both love and the sea – forces that captivate the human spirit.

Inspired by the emotional transformation of a coastal bride on her wedding day, the piece reflects the dreamlike feeling of surrendering to romance, beauty and connection. For the bride, this enchantment is heightened by the ocean itself.

With coastal hues of soft ivory and ocean blue straw, the headpiece is adorned using vintage pearls, sequins and crystals, reminiscent of shells, coral and treasures carried ashore by the tide. Flowing curves echo the rhythm of waves and the asymmetry of the coastline.

Enchanté par la Mer captures the essence of a bride utterly spellbound – enchanted by marriage and forever enchanted by the sea.

People’s Choice – Joint Winner

Kelly Maskell ‘The Octopus’ Garden’

Enchanted: a rare moment of pure wonder, when colour, beauty and unexpected discovery transport you to a delightful place. The Octopus’s Garden was inspired by snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef, capturing the enchantment I felt surrounded by vivid colours and extraordinary sea life.

The turquoise hat base reflects the brilliance of tropical waters, while delicate crinoline evokes peering through crystal clear waters revealing intricate sequin and beaded coral formations hidden beneath the surface. Within the coral a regal beaded octopus sits atop her sculptural garden.

Be enchanted as you search for the sea life hiding throughout this piece and celebrate the reef’s delicate beauty, variety and mystery beneath the ocean’s surface.

Fiona Cooper ‘Tainted’

Tainted draws on the moment Snow White is enchanted by the red apple.

The form is reduced to a clean, graphic composition: a red apple surrounded by forest green, with concentric rings graduating in colour to a dark, evil core.

The slight off-centre placement introduces a disruption within an otherwise resolved form. The piece focuses on the shift from something inviting to something dangerous. The apple remains simple, while the centre holds the point of disruption.

Tainted reflects a controlled approach to design, where proportion, placement and colour carry the idea.

Harri Harrison ‘Hecate’

Inspired by Hecate, the ancient underworld Greek goddess, ruler of the moon, magic, enchantment, childbirth, death and fate. Said to be the first ever witch, she tormented men through their dreams. She haunted crossroads, tombs, doorways, liminal spaces and the scenes of crimes. She had the power to bestow or withhold desired gifts to mortals and is an archaic image of the strange and elusive realm of the unconscious.

Joanne Cooke ‘Grimm’

“Someone walked through the rainforest, someone who shouldn’t have been in that part of the glen. As her long flowing cape dragged across the undergrowth, lush green spiral ferns eerily transformed to black, changing the landscape instantly. With every step, the vibrant, wet life of the glen was snuffed out, replaced by a crystalline, obsidian stillness. She didn’t pause to watch the corruption spread, her dark eyes fixed straight ahead. The forest seemed to hold its breath. The usual chatter of birds and insects had died, replaced by a sudden unnatural silence”

The inspiration for this piece was an image of a beautiful green spiral fern. But what would happen if it was touched by dark enchantment, instantly transformed from soft to sharp, light to dark.

Sarah Mensforth ‘Read Between the Roses’

The theme Enchanted conjured visions of a magical garden, while hinting that something darker may be lurking beneath.

This piece explores the idea that things are not always as they first seem and that enchantment can hold both beauty and danger. The top is covered in sculpted roses, designed to appear soft and feminine while still holding strength and structure to draw the eye. Each rose petal is crafted from satin and organza, using contrasting textures to express both softness and strength. Beneath the roses sit black pointed satin flowers, thinner and sharper to symbolise danger and the darker elements hidden beneath the surface.

First impressions can be deceptive.

Kimberley Barnham ‘Enchanted by Sunset in Autumn’

Autumn was a magical time that took my breath away during childhood.

Crispy red leaves would crunch underfoot or fly away in swirls of wind in the golden sunset. Moments like that where enchanting.

This gorgeous wire-work hat is golden like the setting sun and to one side some red velvet leaves are riding the wind.

Tammy Gill ‘The Garden of Eden’

The story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden tells the tale of an enchanting existence which is lost when Eve is deceived by the Serpent to eat the forbidden fruit and be banished from paradise. The serpent and apple represent that moment in time of enchantment before Eve’s temptation and loss of innocence.

Helen Paull ‘Swept Up by Magic’

‘Swept Up by Magic’ explores our ocean’s beauty and its magical surprises.

Inspired by my childhood memories and local environment, the ‘Jeannie-like’ bottle becomes a symbol of wonder. An elegant form swept up by the ocean’s powerful waves and holding something exciting and unexpected.

The sea urchin is the hero and my initial inspiration with its amazing texture. Together with the sculptural bottle and pearl elements, the feathery flowing movement of the sea anemone and drifting seaweed, my entry aims to capture the beauty, transformation and enchantment of the sea..

Georgia Skelton ‘12:01’

Inspired by the story of Cinderella, this piece captures the moment one minute after midnight, as the magic begins to fade.

The slipper is lost, the carriage starts to transform and everything shifts from fantasy to reality. The horn-like base references the instruments once used to announce important moments, adding drama and marking a turning point in the story.

I’ve incorporated wire work, woven elements, embroidery, draping, and needle lace. Each technique brings a different mood and texture, with a hidden slipper offering a quiet hint of hope for what is still to come.

Through this piece, I explore “enchanted” as something fleeting -beautiful, delicate and momentary – capturing that final magical second before it disappears, reminding us to appreciate it when it appears.

Samantha Wade ‘Whispers of Regrowth’

Whispers of Regrowth reflects a world craving renewal and balance. Shimmering white strands evoke hope, connection and the unseen forces that guide change, while the mushroom form symbolises nature’s quiet resilience — restoring what is broken.

In an age of excess, this piece celebrates regeneration, suggesting that even in darkness, life rebuilds, adapts and finds harmony once more.

Anita Marshall ‘Enchanted Rose’

Once upon a time, there was a land of only white.

For as long as anyone could remember, a world of colour was just a fairy tale, told to children as bedtime stories. A curse had fallen upon the town and its forest. A strange magic born from someone’s broken heart drained the place of its colour and wonder.

But deep within the dark forest, a single enchanted rose held the
magic to return the colour and life as it once was.

Mary Mohr ‘Upside Down Top Hat’

During a recent visit to Vietnam I was enchanted by my visit to the mountain areas around Sapa where I discovered a world of wonder.

The landscape was beautiful even if the roads were more than a little scary! The people were fascinating. Agriculture was important as was creating and selling crafts. The native costumes were very intricate and colourful, featuring mainly red, black and white.

At a local market a Red Dao lady agreed to sell me the wonderful headpiece she was wearing. It was red and black with lots of braids, beading, pompoms and tassels. The construction and shape intrigued me and I eventually decided it was an upside down top hat shape so that is what inspired my design entry.

Robynne Dowd ‘The Dark Side’

From the wings of Mercury sliding through space like quicksilver and Icarus trying to reach the sun to Peter Pan, we have been enchanted by the magical stories and dreams of flying beyond the moon and swirling through the universe.

As children we were fascinated by the Midsummer Dreams of Faries and fanciful beings, the Magic Faraway Tree that reached for the sky and telescopes that mapped the stars.

This Hat represents the excitement of rising above the world and hurtling into the unknown and the security of safely returning home.

Mary McCann ‘Liorael: Woven Light”

Inspired by The Lord of the Rings movies and the ethereal presence of Queen Galadriel, my design interprets “Enchanted” through delicacy, light and texture in addition to imagination and emotion.

Machine-embroidered circular motifs on sheer fabric create a suspended, floating effect, evoking rings, light and quiet magic. Organic, lace-like beaded forms reflect the living beauty of a land where nature and enchantment are inseparable. The flowing structure echoes natural rhythms, while hand-crafted detail softens materiality into something otherworldly. The fabric tails of the headpiece are designed to be worn either draped elegantly across the décolletage or flowing softly over the back of the neck.

Chris Mullane ‘Zen Garden’

Japanese Zen Gardens are tranquil and mesmerizing spaces that offer a serene escape from the busy world. Rooted in the philosophy of “dry landscaping“ they are designed for relaxation, meditation, reflection and healing. The enchantment lies in their ability to evoke a sense of calm, quiet wonder and “no-mindness”.

The Zen stone stack represents balance and harmony with nature.

The concept of creating a hat base that looked part of the stone stack itself required a hat block to be hand sculpted specifically, shaped in the form of a flat rock. The smaller stones where hand shaped with paper clay for lightweight wearability.

The soothing earthy colour palette reflects the understated beauty of the natural world.

Fiona Eichler ‘In the Dragon’s Keep’

Deep in the dragon’s keep. A dragon and its gold. Why do dragons covet gold? Some say it provides a warm bed for the fire breather. Others claim it is used as armour for their soft underbelly. Or that they are bewitched by its power to enhance magical properties. A mythological creature of immense power, enchanted by shiny metal. Beaded dragon, protecting its gold.

Lauren Ritchie ‘The Garden Path’

e Garden Path draws on the quiet wonder of wandering through an enchanted garden. A soft, glistening path weaves and meanders, inviting the wearer to explore what magic might lie just beyond view. Pale pink tones create a sense of lightness, while butterflies rest and lift along the edges, capturing a moment of movement in still air. The piece balances whimsy with delicacy, echoing the feeling of being suspended between reality and imagination.

Designed to evoke curiosity and gentle joy, The Garden Path celebrates the fleeting beauty found in nature’s smallest details and the sense of possibility that comes from following where the path leads.

Rachael Henson ‘Dare You’

A concoction of fairytales and fantasy. A hint of well loved fairy tales with an enchanted potion as its centre piece, wending its way enticingly over the edge, daring you to have just a little taste.

Irene Moore ‘Enchanted Stories’

Once Upon a Time…

A beautiful creation was imagined, shaped by hand and adorned with a little touch of magic. May the one who wears it step into their own wonderful, enchanted story. And wherever their journey leads, may it end just as all the best stories do…

Happily Ever After.

Leteisha Knecht ‘Hatter’s Enchantment’

The Hatter’s Enchantment draws inspiration from Alice in Wonderland, reimagining the whimsical spirit of the Mad Hatter through contemporary millinery.

Crafted from Royal purple silk dupion with teal and violet accents, the sculptural top hat features intricate hand-beading, layered feather florals and suspended charms including clock face, key and playing card.

Blending traditional millinery techniques with modern storytelling, the piece captures themes of curiosity.

Penelope Gervais ‘Where Butterflies Bloom’

An enchanted vision of wearable art, this whimsical butterfly headpiece blooms like a secret garden touched by magic.

Delicate white branches twist skyward in graceful, organic curves, alive with pastel butterflies in fluttering shades of blush pink, lavender, sky blue, golden yellow, aqua and soft coral. Each butterfly appears as though it has just landed for a fleeting moment, wings poised in mid-dream. Sculpted white petals unfurl between them like
moonlit blossoms, adding an ethereal softness to the design. Rising from the crown like a living sculpture, the piece feels both fantastical and high-fashion—an otherworldly statement where nature, elegance and imagination meet.

Elena Kornienko ‘Sleeping Spell’

Sleeping Spell interprets the theme Enchanted through a balance of sculptural drama, refined craftsmanship and narrative detail.

The sweeping crescent silhouette creates a strong architectural form, while suspended emerald petals suggest a moment of transformation held in time.

The design explores enchantment not as fantasy alone, but as tension between beauty and darkness, stillness and motion. By combining structure with delicacy, Sleeting Spell aims to present a contemporary couture response to the theme, celebrating millinery as both wearable art and storytelling.

Julia Watson ‘The Magical Beehive’

The magical beehive radiates harmony, wisdom and a soothing sense of protection. Its warm honey-gold glow invites visitors into a lively realm of blooming flowers and charming creatures—fairies, gnomes, bees, dragonflies and fireflies. Believed to bring luck and safety, it embodies the essence of “enchanted living” a life deeply connected to community, nature and the earth’s magic.

Spending countless hours crafting this magical hive became my personal escape, a dreamy retreat from everyday struggles. Immersed in these imagined worlds, I felt waves of wonder, joy and curiosity that lifted my spirits.

Rachael Hart ‘Witchy Poo Princess’

At four years old, my mother created my first ‘Witchy Poo’ costume. Tall black cardboard coned hat, ragged dress, pillie woollen shawl, blackened tooth and wart of mascara. My heart longed to be a princess. Dreams of a pink hat with flowing chiffon scarf, chasing butterflies riding a Palomino, in place of the worn black painted broom.

Witchy Poo Princess captures the contrast between reality and desire. An enchanted princess pink hat. Skyward reaching pointed crown trimmed with soft butterfly folds of silk chiffon. Tarnished darning stitches honour the witchy beginnings and that wart is dotted all over the silk!

To seal the princess feel, that little bit of froufrou, a touch of tulle, creates that feeling…ENCHANTED.

Rachel Henry ‘Bursts of Fireworks’

This piece reflects my love for butterflies and my dream of creating a butterfly house as a cozy sanctuary where these beautiful creatures can thrive. I imagine a place filled with leafy greens foliage a calming water fall and the soft flutter of wings, where people can connect with nature and witness the magic of transformation up close.

With this hat, I want to invite everyone to embrace the wonders of nature and celebrate the amazing changes happening all around us. Just like butterflies, we all have the potential to grow and find our unique paths. Let’s embark on this enchanting journey together and nurture a love for the beauty in our world!

Kathleen Watson ‘Bursts of Illumination’

Enchanted champagne releases roughly 20,000,000 bubbles per glass, forming delicate chains that inspired this design. These bubbles are essential to the enjoyment and experience of champagne, creating its flavour, aroma and the gentle effervescence felt on the tongue and in the nose. As you drink, they awaken the senses, capturing a moment of lightness and fascination.

This headpiece reflects that magic. How bubbles can enchant, drawing you into a fleeting, sparkling world. Their rise and shimmer symbolize celebration and escape, inviting the wearer into an atmosphere of wonder.

Like champagne itself, this piece aims to mesmerize, transporting you into an enchanting realm where sensation, light and movement intertwine.

John Westward-Hill ‘All Is Not Lost’

When the competition was announced, my first thought was to create an oversized princess hat inspired by the historical Hennin. Ironically, the final piece is not oversized at all. I wanted to explore the idea that beauty and growth can emerge from difficult
experiences, using a graduation of colour to symbolise transformation — moving from darker, heavier tones into lighter, more hopeful shades. The exaggerated silhouette references fantasy and historical fashion, while the colour transition reflects resilience, change and optimism. I was drawn to the contrast between
something traditionally delicate and regal and the emotional weight behind the concept. The result is a piece that feels theatrical, romantic and slightly unconventional, while still carrying a deeply personal narrative beneath the surface.

Christine Martin ‘Memories’

I was lucky enough to tour Monet’s garden a couple of years ago and found it to be so enchanting moving around all the different areas leading to the house.

While visiting Perth a few weeks ago I found a beautiful piece of floral lace that had me thinking of my visit to Monet’s garden. I decided then to purchase the lace and enter the Millinery Award. It was easy then to name my entry Memories.

Lisa Watt ‘Curiouser and Curiouser’ or ‘Yes, make it art, but don’t take it too seriously’

I struggled with this theme for months. I couldn’t reconcile enchanted with couture and at one point, I almost gave up entirely. It wasn’t until I realised I had only been exploring the concept through an adult lens that I finally went down the rabbit hole.

I embraced a childlike willingness to immerse myself in make-believe — a world where everything is larger than life and fairies might just live at the bottom of the garden.

“Yes, make it art, but don’t take it too seriously” is a playful celebration of the formative illustrations and literature of childhood: whimsical, theatrical, nostalgic and unapologetically enchanting.

Felicity Northeast ‘The Tale of Fairy Tales’

Enchanted evokes childhood fairy tales and faraway magical lands. This piece blends elements of familiar stories into a whimsical journey. Daisy-petal keyholes invite a glimpse beyond, while winding, overgrown trails are tackled by a brave hero or heroine, leading to hidden heights. As the tiny adventurer, shrunk from a magic potion, pushes through the overgrowth, are they being watched through the petals, or are they the one within a great flower? From the summit a ladder descends into the unknown. Peek inside the flower and let your imagination continue the enchanted tale.

Sprinkles of glitter between the layers, along with scattered stamens and vintage sequins, highlight the magical narrative. Materials have been gathered from treasured collections and travels.

Christine Waring ‘The Lilac Fairy – A Pantomime’

To be “enchanted” takes me back to memories of Christmas, when the Pantomime came to town!

Sleeping Beauty was the performance. The Lilac Fairy (named for the colour she wore), leader of the good fairies was my favourite. Casting her magical spell, so the princess would not die, but sleep for 100 years, in the Enchanted Forest Castle.

To believe in fairy tales, is pure magic at any age! My entry, a contemporary, light ethereal crown. Moulded over a Pixie hat block, using 3 layers of straw/sinamay. Handmade lilac crinoline flowers sewn around the base, representing fairy wings, smaller flowers cover the crown capturing the forest. The burst of top flowers,
sparkling beads and twisted glossy straw trim drawing you up to the castle.

Cynthia Jones-Bryson ‘Tinkerbelle Does Flemington – I Do Believe in Fairies’

‘I do believe in fairies’ is a phrase often used in my home. Tinkerbell and Peter Pan and other like minded fairies are indeed always welcome.

I have a miniature glass statue of Tinkerbelle given to me by my son from a trip to Disneyland in Tokyo. Enchanting to say the least – her beautiful wings are a sight to behold.

“I Do Believe in Fairies”

Model: Lorena Vianca

HMUA: Peggy Stasinos Makeup

Photographer: Richard Shaw

Event Host: Millinery Australia

Project Lead: Jo Peterson

Shoot Location: Georgia Skelton