CONGRATULATIONS TO TOP HAT WINNER ROSE J MONZYK

 

1. When you first came to Lexington for the TOP HAT competition did you think you were going to win?

I really didn’t think I had a chance to win.  I came to give myself a challenge
because it was my birthday, face my fears, meet some new friends and learn what
I could from others.

2. Did you have any moments during the competition where you panicked and didn’t think you’d finish or have a great piece?

I was so terribly nervous for at least the first half hour that I could barely
hold a needle or make my hands work. I kept dropping the needles and fumbling.
When I went back to Rose Hill that night I would have given anything to start
over because when I looked around I thought everyone else was better. I was also
so nervous during the interview that my brain just went dead.

3. Did you like the materials you were working with?

I loved the materials. The sinamay was beautiful and had a good amount of body.
I loved the embellishments even though I didn’t use many of them when it came
down to deciding. As my design developed it changed some from the original
plan.

4. What about the colors?

The colors I received were my favorites and would probably have been my choice. (Orange and pink)

5. How was the timing for you?

The timing was good for me. I worried I wouldn’t have enough time and actually
finished early. I was intimidated that some of the milliners had training and I
didn’t. I had taken 2 classes from Veronica Chin at Judith M’s and 1 from Dee
Atkinson on pattern drafting.

6. What was your inspiration in designing the piece?

My inspiration was a rose that grows in our garden that is pink and yellow. I
started forming the first petals, not really sure where I was going with it at
that time, and from there the piece took over and started telling me what it
wanted to be.

7. Did you place any of the other milliners in the winning position during the competition? (Did you think one was definitely going to win? Who? Why?)

I thought the winners were going to be Penny and Fielden. So I wasn’t nervous
for the Runway because I just thought they had it. All of the milliners were so
good and their work was quality and beautiful. At that point I thought let’s
finish here so I can get back to my friends.

8. Who did you think your biggest competitor was?

I felt Diane was my biggest competitor at the first. But then as Penny and
Fielden developed their hats, I saw them as the biggest competition.

9. When you saw your piece on the runway what was going through your head?

When I saw my piece on the runway I just thought my model was so adorable. She
made it look fun to wear my hat. It’s funny to see something you created on
someone’s head. Like, did I do that? The runway show was so fun to see all the
designs on models. I loved that part!

10. Were you nervous?

I was horribly nervous in the beginning and then settled in. I told myself to
just do what I know and not try to be someone else. I felt a bit of the country
bumpkin around all the city girls.

11. When you were lined up and Briana said that you and Lisa could be the winner…and then announced you as the TOP HAT winner…what were you thinking?!

I was just waiting for my name to be called in the first 4 and when I was still
standing there I was shocked. I looked at Lisa and I think we were both
surprised. Then I thought to myself, well, coming in 2nd is pretty good. When I
heard my name I was just so surprised! I really couldn’t believe it. I’m not
trying to sound humble. I just didn’t think it was possible. I was so excited
and elated then. My heart was beating a thousand miles an hour.

12. Overall was TOPHAT a great experience for you as a milliner? Why?
Top Hat was a great experience. I loved chatting with the other milliners and
learning about them. I picked up a few good tips. I had a fun time. It would
have been a great experience even without winning. There have been so many
wonderful messages and phone calls.

13. Whats next for Rose J Monzyk Millinery?

I feel like Top Hat has opened doors for me that I would not have had. I expect
great contacts and experiences to come from it. I continue to show at some Art
Fairs in Washington, Mo, St Louis, Des Moines and I will be at Silver Dollar
City in Branson in the autumn to demonstrate and sell my designs. I also hand
paint silk and teach classes. And I have been a Sales Director with Mary Kay
Cosmetics 30 years and continue to love the mix of doing all these things. It
keeps variety in my life.  There’s been a little lift in my step and perhaps a
bit of smile on the inside all the time. It would be a dream come true to get to
England to study millinery and learn all the best techniques, because I know
that there is so much more to learn and I’d like to be one of the world’s best
milliners.

 

The TOP HAT competition challenges six talented milliners from all over the United States to create a stunning headpiece from scratch in a short period of time using materials provided to them.

Out of the six beautiful millinery pieces only one will be chosen to be the TOP HAT.

NOW ITS TIME TO FIND OUT WHO HAS THE TOP HAT!

 

Part 1 of the Finale: If you missed the first, second, or third watch them below this one!!

 

The first episode will air Monday March 18th at 6:00pm EST on our webpage and our YouTube channel.

 

All materials are being provided by:

 

Meet our milliners:

 

 

 

Penny Rieck

Hats by Penny

Arizona

 10 years in millinery

 

 

 

Rose J Monzyk

Rose J Monzyk Millinery

Washington, Missouri

www.hatsbyjosephine.com

 11 years in millinery

 

 

 

 

Fielden Willmott

Fielden Willmott Millinery

Lexington, KY

www.FWMillinery.com

 2 years in millinery

 

 

Diane Shagott

Hats to Di For

Georgia

www.hatstodifor.com

 9 years in millinery