Rose Cory MBE

Born in 1940, Rose Cory is one of the most well-known milliners of her time, training generations of very successful milliners. She has been a corner stone of the industry for nearly half a century, often meeting with HM Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. 

After leaving Kidbrooke comprehensive, she started work in the trade, as an apprentice with Royal milliner Rudolf, where she trained intensively until she was twenty-three. She then went on to gain more experience with other prominent milliners of the day, such as Mitzi Lorenz, Verniers, Langee, Otto Lucas, Bermans Theatrical, and Frederick Fox. During this time, she made hats for many celebrities and members of the Royal Family. 

After a few years, she decided to return to work for Rudolf who, as well as making hats for many eminent people and theatrical productions. He was still Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother’s milliner. However, from 1970, she made most of her hats under the name of Rudolph. When Rudolf died in 1982, Rose Cory continued to work with his partner Joy Quested Nowell until her death, but now making hats for the Queen Mother under her own label. Rose Cory’s signature style, a hat with upturned brim and large plume embellishment became the Queen Mother’s favourite style. That hat shape is most widely associated with her. 

The story behind the introduction of that iconic style is that, apparently, when one of her hats was being finished in the workshop, someone accidentally burned the side of the hat while ironing the brim, leaving a visible mark. Rose decided to place a large ostrich feather over the burn, in hope that the error wouldn’t be visible. Representatives from Clarence House took the hat away, and days later informed Rose that the new style was the Queen Mother’s favourite yet. 

In the latest stages of her career, Rose is sharing her incredible skills to train the next generations of milliners. She started to run millinery classes at Shrewsbury House, in Shooters Hill, London, attracting students from all over the world.

Some of them started a successful millinery career, like, for example, Sarah Marshall, who trained under Rose before entering the workroom of John Boyd Hats, which she is now running after the passing of its founder in 2018.

On the 9th of June 2018 Rose Cory was awarded an MBE for “services to the Millinery Industry”.