Victor Osborne

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Milliner Victor Osborne developed a following for his expertly crafted hats in Williamsburg, where he had an atelier for three years before moving into this Lower East Side shop in 2009. He designed the store with what he calls an "open-kitchen layout," aiming to promote interaction with customers while showcasing the craftsmanship involved in hat-making. The cashier separates the showroom from an atelier, where Osborne can often be seen working on a sewing machine or constructing a hat on a block. The space is small but sleek, with shiny black hardwood floors, a shabby-chic chandelier adorning the entryway, and elegant hats hanging against the exposed brick walls. In the back of the atelier, dark shelves are stacked with wooden hat blocks and works-in-progress. Available off-the-rack styles include bowlers, derbies, pork-pies, and trilbies (à la Pete Doherty) for men and cloches, embellished cocktail hats, and colorful berets for women, as well as unisex fedoras. The "Greta"—a design that combines a cloche and a fedora—and the "Marlene"—a romantic, asymmetric fedora—are best sellers for women, while cloth caps ("good for beginners") and felt fedoras are popular choices for men. Osborne also receives around a dozen custom orders each week, which can take anywhere from a few days to two weeks to complete, depending on the design. — Elif Ince