East Village Hats

I want to support small independent stores like this but it's important to give honest feedback. The service. 4/5. I emailed ahead of purchasing stating I wanted some modifications ( which owner replied yes) as well as made a note with purchase for modifications but owner didn't check so sent hat without changes. Happened to be in NY a month later, got everything modified but if i wasn't in NY it would have been returned and resent on my cost. Very slow to respond to emails. The quality. 1/5. I purchased the supreme in coarse sisal. The straw material used is very thin and easily deformed. See picture attached. This is from just a 5 day trip to NY and it already looks beaten up and years old. The straw is also starting to fray. Disappointed. I own 3 hats fromother independent small store designer hats and the quality of service and material is better.

After purchasing an overpriced "custom-made" hat in Colorado that didn't come out quite as expected, I went in to East Village Hats to have the hat altered. The shop owners were extremely pleasant, empathetic with my situation and carefully explained how they could fix the hat. When the alterations were completed a few days later, the promptly called me to notify me it was ready for pick up. They charged a very reasonable rate for the alterations and did a fantastic job - disaster was averted thanks to these folks!

I wrote the below 4 years ago. In the intervening years I've become a regular & purchased more hats than I can count. I especially love the tricorne I commissioned. Thank you, Julia! My favourite hat shop in the city. Handmade gorgeous hats in a wide variety of styles with frequent guest exhibits from milliners from all over the world.

I had the wonderful opportunity to have Julia, a darling woman from the UK, design and create a custom made hat to celebrate my brother's outdoor wedding in Georgetown, Washington, D.C. Julia was a dream to work with. I made an appointment with her at her shop, brought in a photo of my dress with me, and described to her what I was looking for. She took my measurements and had me try on a few of her pre-made hats until we found the shape and color that were right. I came to pick up my custom made hat a few weeks later and was thrilled! I received so many compliments at the wedding. Plus, coming to the East Village to shop is always so much fun. I can't wait to have my fall/winter hat made with her!!

Super duper hats at very reasonable prices. One can get same quality or even better than the ones sold at Bergdorf Goodman New York! Owner is slightly abrupt (maybe just her accent?); But super lovely attenant!

I discovered East Village Hats while looking for a place to restore my 94 year old step-father's pork pie hat. His father bought it for him on his 16th birthday in 1942. The shop is magical. Ms. Knox is very knowledgeable. Almost all of my experience was wonderful. Except when I called to see if I could pick the hat up early. As I asked on the phone if after 2pm was OK because I wanted to take the hat to an appointment at 4pm, she snapped at me and said "I will if you would stop talking and let me finish it." Maybe she was having a bad day? I didn't appreciate it, but the hat came out beautifully. I would highly recommend this shop.

Super dope. Great vibes. Honestly, I spent over $700 on hats here and I would do it again tomorrow. Julia is amazing and the hats are worth every penny. I didn't buy some disposable garbage on Amazon, I bought hand crafted designer pieces that we'll wear and cherish for a long time.

Discovering this store and meeting Julia made my day today, during all the craziness going on 2020. I am obsessed with this store- the best material the hats made from, the delicate but perfect shapes, the subtle color of straw/ribbon/flower, how well they are designed and made. What else could you ask for? Not to mention how sweet and helpful Julia is- she knew what I was looking for from the beginning and everything she recommended was amazing. Happy happy happy 💕💕💕

I had a hat that needed a bit of restoration. I took it to East Village Hats not knowing what to expect. It was a great expeience. The hat was reshaped, the inside liner reglued, the form stiffened -- it looks and feels like new. They are the best of the best and so reasonably priced. Highly recommended.

It pains me to reflect my negative experience because the shop itself transports you to another time and place, a magical world that no longer exists, a world of craft and quality. Regrettably, my experience brought me to the present world, where the reality is poor workmanship and zero accountability. Sonia, who was minding the shop, appeared irritated that I was interrupting her personal phone call with my question about why my practically new straw hat was unraveling. Her first response was that I was mishandling the way I put my hat on and took it off. I mean, I collect hats. I have 3 dozen vintage fedoras; this has never happened. In a reluctant and dismissive effort she offered that they could perhaps reinforce the shredding seam with a thick ribbon that would turn a simple summer lid into a pimp hat. Had this been an inexpensive item, (it was a gift) I would have shrugged and moved on, but it was quite costly - and frankly, poorly made. Threads should not be popping out all over. Proprietors should stand by their items. This wasn't some rando internet purchase, this was a generous gift. To say I was disappointed is an understatement. The storefront is so singular and promising, but ultimately the product proved as inferior as the customer service.

I initially walked by this place walking back home from a corepower class and there was a sign outside that said "Hat Class in Progress." I was intrigued. A few weeks later, I walked by again and there was no hat class in progress. I popped in just to see what EVH is all about, as I love super niche businesses like this. I walked in and the owner was helping out a few other people, so I just perused around for a second. I had my airpods in with no music playing, hiding in plain sight. I heard the owners AWESOME British accent and thought to myself "wow it's really a vibe in here." At this exact moment, I spotted a hat that really caught my eye. It was a hat that had a mix matched denim pattern that could be paired with almost any outfit. I had a vision of me buying this hat and it becoming an integral part of my personality. "Oh, there goes the guy with the cool hat walking up 1st ave" onlookers would say as they walked by, jealous of my cool new hat. Cute girls would come up to me at the Wayland and or Ding-a-Ling saying "Oh my god, I love your hat!" ... "You haven't been to East Village Hats!??!?!?!" I would respond to them with a cheeky, endearing smile. However, when I picked up the hat it was like $130 and that's just out of my price range for a hat at this moment. Also, I have an extremely large head so the hat was probably a pipe dream all along. A man could dream can't he...?

My hat needed sizing. I went into the store and was pleased to see staff who were expert in the field. The hat was adjusted and no longer flies off when there is a gust of wind. The adjustment was permanent -- the young woman first measured the adjustment and then permanently sewed it in. The charge was $10--minimal. I also met the owner, who is lovely (she filled me in on what happened to JJ Hat Center). She is a hat maker. The store specializes in custom hats made to order. It is my new go to for haberdashery.

The ultimate in small, but mighty! A petite little shop packed with fun hats. There seems to be a regular clientele who pops in, at least that was the case while a group of girlfriends swarmed the place, trying on pretty much every hat in the shop. Shane was very nice and helpful, and hats were purchased! Another of the not-to-miss hat shops in NYC. This will always be in my rotation when in the city.

Took one of the hat blocking classes here with Julia, and it was amazing! She was very patient with everyone in the class trying on every hat silhouette imaginable before deciding what we were actually going to make. I left with a beautifully made hat that I can't wait to wear over and over for years to come. A group of friends and I also took a fascinator decorating class with Julia, and created some Kentucky Derby worthy pieces. Would highly recommend.

Went in last week, specifically, for a top hat. Julia did not disappoint!! Left with such a gorgeous hat and such amazing conversation. Highly recommend this shop.

I had the wonderful opportunity to have Julia, a darling woman from the UK, design and create a custom made hat to celebrate my brother's outdoor wedding in Georgetown, Washington, D.C. Julia was a dream to work with. I made an appointment with her at her shop, brought in a photo of my dress with me, and described to her what I was looking for. She took my measurements and had me try on a few of her pre-made hats until we found the shape and color that were right. I came to pick up my custom made hat a few weeks later and was thrilled! I received so many compliments at the wedding. Plus, coming to the East Village to shop is always so much fun. I can't wait to have my fall/winter hat made with her!!

On a dull, dreary, rainy New York Saturday we just had the most magical experience at East Village Hats with Julia. Beyond the fact that she is an amazing person and incredibly knowledgeable, she welcomes you with obvious love for what she does and for making people happy and bringing out the best in them through her hats. She is both patient and passionate. We ended up with three very different hats, each of them bringing out something new and exciting in the woman wearing them. Julia used her expertise to make sure that our choices were exactly right. We will definitely be back, and would recommend this to anybody who even has a small affinity for hats. We look forward to seeing her hats highlighted in some upcoming TV shows and movies as well. It was amazing and we are truly grateful for the time that we got to spend at East Village Hats with Julia. Phenomenal!

A true one-of-a-kind gem! One of the last remaining millinery shops in NYC, East Village Hats is the place to go for any hat needs. They offer a wide range of caps, hats, fascinators, and headpieces all made by hand right on the premises. And if you don't see what you're looking for, the staff will work with you to fit you and design a custom hat to meet all of your needs! The shop additionally offers classes on how to make all types of hats. I've taken several classes here with the head milliner and guest teachers from around the world, and I now have a wide array of unique hats in my wardrobe that I made myself! Even if you're not a hat person, the shop is a beautiful space with a charming and unique vibe that is worth checking out for yourself!

Ok, so I've had this vintage hat in closet forever and knew I would find a milliner in NYC to fix it! So glad I found this charming hat store on E. 7th. I emailed Julia from Honolulu to see if she could help and told me to bring it in for a stretch. So on this wet rainy day, I trudged to E. 7th where Suzanne put this hat on a VERY cool vintage stretcher and actually stretched it 1 inch - 1 full size bigger! After years, I can finally wear it. Beautiful womens and mens hats here - I daresay I prefer the men's styles better, but I suppose I am gender fluid as clothing goes. This store is hat finery on East 7th.

Not many of these businesses left in our beautiful city now as rents go up and convenience dictates that we buy prepackaged stuff online. So set aside the dorky baseball cap and rescue your inner dandy - find out what it is like to have a properly fitting hat bespoke made for you instead at this place. There are tons of samples hanging on the wall and you can also bring in a picture of one that may strike your fancy - they seem to be able to make one in any shape or color. You can of course get the boring black or brown fedora crafted here but the owner/proprietor will rightly push you toward something with more character and/or brighter colors. Get your noggin measured, wait about a week, and if you are like us you get talked into a top hat (think Slash) made in an exotic animal print felt that is cool enough to make all the pimps in the city green with envy.

I love hats, but have trouble buying them because of sizing issues. I was delighted to discover East Village Hats on a recent visit to NYC. Julia and her staff were helpful and funny. I was able to buy one "off the rack" (with a little extra trim) and order two more to be made and shipped to me. I generally hate shopping in all its forms, but this was a totally fun and happy experience.

What a cute little place! I happened to walk in front of this store and my friend really wanted to get a nice hat for when he goes to concerts and operas. This happened to be heaven for him. There were numerous hats for men and women. The people helping were amazing, friendly, and not at all pushy. The hats are high quality and hand made. The ribbon portion they can change out for free, and offered to change them anytime you want. They also can dye the hat a different color if the one they have in store isn't exactly what you want. I didn't know the difference between a haberdasherie and a millerie. The former just sells hats. The latter actually makes them. The hats are not cheap, but you know you're getting real quality. We ended up getting one that looked really fantastic.

I went to this store with two friends ahead of a trip to Greece looking for high quality hats that would make us feel good in our own skin during our travels after a tough few years of the pandemic. We entered the store full of excitement and silliness towards each other - ready to potentially become customers of what we thought would be a great shop after bouncing around a few other places. The person who seemed to be the shop manager or owner was condescending from nearly the moment we walked in and immediately changed the energy of the room. I'm not sure if she assumed that since we were in playful spirits towards each other we weren't serious shoppers, but it was truly horrible customer service and that's coming from a lifelong New Yorker. Since there was three of us - we were all handing each other hats to try out and there was some periodic confusion around sizing or style preferences. Instead of being helpful, this individual called us unintelligent and actually mocked our voices - absolute madness from a business to a customer. We have thick skin so we ignored the first two times giving benefit of the doubt that it was off-color humor. That was until she very rudely scolded us and told us to only try hats in a certain order that she preferred. We chose to leave instead as a matter of principle to not be mistreated in an establishment. I live only a few blocks from here but certainly will not be coming back - after 30+ years in New York, I know that there are many other places that value customers way more. As a learning for this business, you catch way more flies with honey than vinegar - and you forfeit enthusiastic shoppers ready to do business with you.

It's saddening to see reviews citing bad service, but also confusing. I am a longtime lover of hats, so I was excited to see the place, to say the least, and the woman who greeted me was everything lovely. Certainly she had no qualms about spending almost an hour chatting and plonking different hats on my head, despite the fact I didn't buy anything. I will, mind you. I don't live in the area, but the next time I'm about, I'll visit, and I'll stalk the website for ones I especially like so as to be ready. They're expensive, but not surprisingly so for hand-made hats and some of the simpler options are more affordable, especially during end-of-season sales, and they go with anything you care to wear them with. This sort of place is a rare find for me, and I'm glad to see millinery is still practiced properly.

***Racism alert*** Very condescending, disrespectful, and I daresay, racist. Please don't go if you're a believer in equality and human decency in general. I have been to many hat shops, and none were as disrespectful as this one. If you are in the area looking for hats, please go instead to other shops nearby, such as The Milinery Shop, which has gorgeous hats and provides superb service. Here is what happened: My mom loves hats, so we decided to visit milinery shops in upper east and east village. Because she's from abroad and not fluent in English, I had to translate what she wanted. My mom had a mental image of a hat that she wanted, but it was not easy for me to fully grasp and describe it. Now, I understand how it can be confusing and frustrating to deal with a customer who needs translation. But in no way does that justify the degree of their rudeness and condescension. We were there for less than five minutes, yet within that narrow time span, they would repeatedly smirk right IN FRONT of us, loudly sigh, and talk behind our back about how we were confusing them (yes, I could very clearly hear you). When I confronted the clerks about their rudeness in calm yet firm voice, they gave us insincere apologies with the same old smirks on their faces. Even as we were exiting, they would mockingly laugh at us. Tells a lot about their professionalism and etiquette. Now, because most other reviewers gave 5 stars for this shop, you might be suspecting that my mom and I are the ones who are unpleasant to deal with. That's an understandable suspicion. All I can tell you is that 1. the employee of the very next hat shop we visited described us as "a cute daughter and mom pair", and 2. most 5 star reviews are written by white women.

Such a wonderful and special place. It is such a charming store filled with beautiful hats and knowledgeable and friendly staff. You're free and encouraged to try on hats in the store, and if you don't find exactly what you want, they'll work with you to create it. Were that not enough, they also offer classes and workshops so that you can get a hands-on experience of making a hat and learn the techniques from start to finish. As a person who likes to make things (and learn new skills), this is a huge plus to an already amazing shop! Seriously can't say enough positive things about East Village Hats.

Sometimes a lady is in need of a hat. And this classic millinery shop located in the heart of the East Village is my go to spot when I in fact do need a hat! The prices are reasonable for the materials, and time that goes into crafting such perfectly designed head pieces. I always feel like I've stepped into a different century when I go to visit Barbara. And I feel like more than a lady when I place her unique master pieces on my little head. And speaking of my little odd shaped head, you can also have your hats stretched and resized here even if you didn't purchase them from Barbara. She also fixed fixed up and cleaned up a few of my grandmas vintage fasinators. Even if you aren't in the market for a hat, this shop is worth checking out if you are a fan of that old new york vibe!

I now could afford to splurge on a lovely hat here, but I cannot bring myself to do it because of how they treated me one time when I was a student. I was admiring the hats and thinking about how one day I would like to own one as soon as I had the money. I told the salesperson (owner?) that they were gorgeous. Immediately detecting that I could not afford it, she looked at me with wordless contempt before averting her eyes. There were no other customers to tend to; she started reading a paper instead of acknowledging the compliment. As much as I admire the hats themselves, I would be more likely to reenact this scene than I would be to purchase anything from people with such nasty, ungracious attitudes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQQK0VTTXvA

This is a classic little East Village shop--quality hats, creative designs made right there in the tiny little workshop. Maybe you could find something less expensive on Etsy, but you won't find these quality materials and unique, classic designs. Barbara's hats look like they should be in a movie--on Angelina Jolie's head (like in that Clint Eastwood flick). Tonight I went in just to have a hat (bought a long time ago at a different shop) stretched and had the pleasure of dealing with Ms. Barbara herself. She's a real character--the kind of New Yorker who makes this city great--truly passionate about her work and with a spicey frankness about her. Maybe she's not for everybody, but I found her to be a pleasure to deal with. Next time I have an extra couple hundred bucks to lay out for a hat this is where I'll go.

I have to say over the last couple of years I have fallen more & MORE in love with hats, When I discovered this magical and sweet boutique, my girlfriends and I were in our glory! I have a couple of amazing pieces from true artists and Suzanne & Julia always are so awesome and patient in helping us pick the perfect hat! We are actually able to rent a beautiful piece for a big event we were performing at. It can't get much cooler than that! You won't be disappointed by your experience or your purchase, this is an authentic and true Milliner Haven !!!

Remarkable, remarkable shop. This hat shop is amazing and the staff knows everything there is to know about hats. EVH is a rare gem!

Barbara is awesome, a true artist & NYC gem. Over the past few years, I've purchased 2 beautiful custom hats from her, a beautiful beaded horsehair headband and also a custom hat for my wedding. Barbara made me a beautiful bird cage veil with beading and the color to match my wedding dress exactly. She and her staff worked very hard on this for me (with much hand sewing and several fittings) --yet the price was reasonable!! I don't know why I ever even considered ordering some expensive piece of rhinestone junk off the internet!! Contrary to some reviews, she does not charge for the consultation - it's merely to determine what you like and set the price. You only pay (half), when you commission her --and you won't be sorry! I'll definitely be back again very soon to make my next purchase. There is an awesome wide brimmed leopard hat that I have my eye on.

Kids today don't know how a good hat from their ass. Barbara can change that. Save for my "Hottest Librarian Ever" t-shirt, her "Ingrid" hat has scored me more attention than any other item in my wardrobe.

Love this place! I have visited on three different occasions while visiting the city. I have purchased amazing hats for both my husband and myself. They have beautiful hats on site and will work with you on customized hats as well. The hat makers are professional, kind and always happy to assist. I've never come across a better place to purchase a hat. Thank you East Village Hats!!!!!

Like many other reviewers, I wandered into this shop by accident as I explored E 7th Street. I was first attracted by the lovely window display. After some consideration, and discussion, I bought a summer straw cloche with an antique ribbon. Carmen was very knowledgeable about making hats, and adjusted the band for me to my size before I left the shop. she even provided a cardboard box to protect my new purchase when I store it. As I was leaving, I got a chance to meet Barbara too. What a treat! One unusual thing about this shop is that it features hats for both women and men, and both formal and casual hats. It's particularly nice that the hats are seasonally appropriate. Great merchandise Great service A complete five-star experience

Beautiful hats custom made to order. You can pick the hat colors and the finishes. The hats on display were beautiful enough for me, so i went with them rather than customizing. I also had a hat that had seen better days but after a seaside trip that involved high winds and a dry spot from seagull poop cleanup, it was sad and floppy. Julia worked her magic and completely restored my hat back to its former glory.

Came in here a few months ago for a hat for the Kentucky derby. While they have beautiful hats I wouldn't waist a penny here. Also, these hats were ok for a derby party but not for the actual derby --they were much too small and cheap looking (even though they started off a few hundred bucks each) Service: The two women working here are so snotty and so rude. They have the worst service around. They really need to wake up and learn how to treat their customers. I'm not sure how these women were brought up but they have no manners at all. Price: $$$$ --not worth it, especially if you are going to the derby --you can find a much better hat on location. (Grand Hyatt does a hat sale the day before the derby)

So I'm tripping through the LES with one of my friends a couple of weekends ago just having hit Veselka - for their premium blintzes - and totally high on fumes from the Perfume Shop. Yes we were feeling pretty fancy free and - little did I know - totally disposed to buying headwear with feathers on them. It was fortuitous then when we rolled up on B. Feinman's shop while looking for a spot of tea. This pricey little shop is full of handmade hats, headbands, veils and fun finds like jewelry and other trimmings. The friendly staff will remove the fragile hats very carefully for you from the walls and place your selection on your head for you to ensure you have a proper fit. It's really nice having a head expert on hand to show you what the designer intended. Of course, you can wear your lid anyway you see fit but it's nice to know how it was made to top your dome. You can try on as many hats as you like and the staff doesn't seem to get annoyed. Don't get it twisted; it helps if you buy something in the end and that's just what I did. I grabbed a throw back looking feather headband with a sparkly appliqué holding it all together. The band is wrapped in cloth all around with the feather and appliqué all to one side near the ear. It's not something that I would wear to work but I totally rock that baby around town on the weekends! I also purchased a straw black summer jam that the lovely ladies at Feinman's agreed to sow a what, yes - peacock feather on for an additional cost of 10 dollars while I waited. She assured me that the stitching would be "invisible" and took a lot of time to place the feather just where I liked it on the hat while I looked on in the mirror. Yes, this place is expensive but you can find some very reasonable prices as well. Some of the cranium cappers can run $200 and up but they are beautiful hand tooled creations. Also, the customer service is very good. I had a problem with two feathers falling off of my headband; brought it back and they fixed it while I waited and gave me a dime bag of replacement feathers. It doesn't get much better than that. The Dopeness: * The beautiful art of millenary is alive and well in the LES * Customization available upon request - I got peacocked * Customer services is hands on and sprightly The Tough Stuff: * Pricey * Most headbands have jeweled appliqués. I'd like to see more feather only offerings. The Cash Outlay: * Headband $70 * Hat $45 * Peacock feather $10

My first Feinman hat was purchased as breakup present to myself after ridding myself from a nasty relationship. My second Feinman hat was purchased for the same reason from the same person three years later! Although Barbara is a tough cookie when it comes to doing business, both she and Carmen offer great suggestions and will amend a lid to your specifications. Don't even think of bargaining with her. Expensive but you get what you pay for!

This is a fantastic store - what shopping should be. Julia, the milliner who owns the store, is wonderful and knowledgeable and she repaired the hat perfectly. In the meantime, I was trying on hats, not intending to buy one, but when I tried on one of her summer hats, I knew that I was going to buy. Every hat in her store is individually and carefully made and finished.

for the 50 cool styles u see online,in each section.. u might go in and see one of each type..if any at all. I went to the section "hair loss' online,there were a hundred choices, and nothing like that there,in the shop,nothing close to my selections.. I'd circled 5 hats and none were in stock,or similar shapes. it's custom order only and they ask top dollar.& no samples to see..only photos. The hats I asked about (on the phone) were available by order only. I needed to just buy a hat, not place a custom order. I asked about 3 styles they seemed annoyed that my list was so long, and gave a loud, audible,"sigh" before reluctantly answering,"out of stock...out of stock..out of stock" I was scared to enter after hearing the horror stories about the owner. When I went in, I kept to myself and kept quiet, I wasn't approached and I was glad..I just wasn't ready to be verbally abused by the creepy owner I'd heard about, so I avoided conversation & questions. Nobody spoke to me or smiled,or approached me, but I was glad. Hats were a little old & dusty looking,nothing cute or clever,mostly dark,uninspired colors..just typical velours, average shapes,like a novice to intermediate Milliner usually shows..They weren't finished particularly cleanly either, just that typical,hand-made-ish looking stuff you see in boutiques. It seemed like they make a batch up now & then, sell the good stuff right away, and the poor sellers stay there unsold until someone decides to place a custom order..the attitude being,"these are just some samples,u need to order!" the cool,retro cloches I saw online were nowhere to be found, If the hats were amazing I'd have paid the price, and risked speaking to the mean lady.. it was just a big letdown..and a waste of my time. very nice website...but boring,overpriced shlock inside the shop.

As some people previously pointed out: "... you get what you pay for!" If you want an amazing hat, this is the place to go. Tough-love kind of customer service. They take pride in their work. Be respectful, enthusiastic and, as previously mentioned, "don't even think of bargaining."

Just a really adorable shop. I loved popping in there and feasting my eyes.

You may already hear about Barbara's famous temper to her customers at Barbara Feinman Millinery. One must rule in Barbara's millinery: ask for help to try on hats! Otherwise, Barbara will yell at you if you pull hats off the wall with your hands. Go figure! I felt in love with a 1940's-inspired wide brim hat, called Incognito, and tailored one just to fit my personality. Barbara hat-fitted me and then custom-made the hat trim to 'showcase' my face shape. http://krmichelle.blogspot.com/2011/01/nyc-find-millinery.html Her store employs a few milliners, and they're all very talented. Custom-made hats are just adorable and I would surely return to the store for more hats!

BFM was refered to me yesterday by my dermatologist in Virginia who has shopped her for years. I sent an email, then phoned the shop and spoke to Barbara herself. When I say I felt like the only customer in her world, it would not be an understatement. Not only did she listen to me, she lead me on the website to hats she liked and thought I'd like offering different materials. Then, suggested I send her a picture of myself so she could see what I looked like. I sent the pictures last night, I got a friendly response back. She is also sending me pictures of items not on her site. Bottom line, I wanted to share my very positive experience yesterday. So far, she has hit the ball right out of the park. I'll be back when I get my hat.

Only one thing keeps me from loathing winter: the new hat I buy here every year. Their styles are timeless, and the craftsmanship is excellent. The price point is on the high side, but you're paying for quality. The only thing keeping me from a five-star review is the cramped layout of the store, which makes browsing a little awkward. Definitely worth a drop-by when you're in NYC.

After searching for a couple of months for a hat for an outdoor day wedding, I checked out East Village Hats. The space made me nostalgic for the days when the little shops ruled! Julia, the owner, very much knows her business and picked out several pieces for me to try out. The problem was I loved them all! We decided on one particular hat and the wonderful part is that she can make her hats out of a wide variety of colors, materials and accessories at prices that are reasonable. She also can fix older hats made elsewhere that have seen better days. Julia and her shop are gems!

I went into the store to take a closer look at the cute hats and oh boy what a HUGE MISTAKE!!!!!!! I hope that sales lady with the short brown bob is not Barbara because she is one of the rudest person I've met. I wanted to buy a straw hat and explained to the sales person it is hard to find the right hat since a hat looks good on display may not look good when you try it on. All HELL broke loose after I said that because this sales person replied: "I don't know, I am not a psychotherapist." Then she added "This is the cheapest hat available" before she walked away. Me and my friend looked at each other and were speechless. We have done nothing to warrant this kind of disrespect. This sales person was condescending, judgmental and rude. If this sales woman is indeed Barbara, then maybe you should use those money you've made and buy yourself some class. Avoid this shop at all cost unless you are prepared to deal with this cranky woman. For the people who wants her hat, I would suggest online shopping.

Since the British Lady who own the little shop opened , I have been a very satisfied customer . She has made me several types of hats that I truly enjoy wearing . Cannot say enough adjectives to complement her and what she does for her customers . Two Big Thumps Up !!!

I wish I knew if it was Barbara herself or not, but I think it was and she's a HORRIBLE person, terrible salesperson, condescending and rude to top it all of. All I said was that I didn't want earmuffs made from real fur, and then all of a sudden, the whole experience became an adventure of me trying to escape her cruelty and sarcasm. Somehow she thought it would be okay to make fun of the fact that I didn't like real fur. She talked down to me arrogantly and impolitely, for anyone, let alone someone trying to make a sale. I have thought about going back to make signs in protest about what a horrendous business she runs, and how no one should frequent such a heartless institution. I try not to wish ill upon people, but I hope someone smacks her in the face with a dose of reality, and that her shops burns down into the ground. NO ONE has ever spoken to me the way she did, and I was a paying customer. She's a 1st rate B*tch!

Gorgeous, handmade hats in the East Village. If I lived somewhere that hats were necessary, I would spend all my lunch money in here. The shopkeeper is attentive, and really knows what looks good for each person's head. Go here for a classic, well made hat!

a little bday treat on my last day in nyc. found a great hat to add to my collection. the mom and daughter were great to chat with. i hope to get back and take a class.

Impulse shopping can really be problematic and the usual buyer's remorse that follows can be worse than the morning hangover after a night at an open mojito bar. I am here to offer myself to you as a compulsive, obsessive, and impulsive shopper. I have no idea where I get it from but I often find myself needing a chaperon when I enter any retail establishment. God forbid there is a sale sign in the window. I can usually justify most of my purchases but the whole sale thing can really leave at a loss for a realistic explanation. I was at a loss for words when, sort of like waking up from a night of black out drunk drinking, I realized I had purchased a rather large bag of dog food. The good certainly outweighed the bad, because it was really high quality product and I got a great price, but I don't own a dog. In any event, I was in one of these moods when I visited Barbara Feinman. Barbara and her second in charge Carmen convinced me that the Grey straw fedora looked as though it was made for my rather husky head. Not only did I agree with these supremely knowledgeable hat ladies, but I took it one step further and had them make me an additional custom number. It took about 3-4 weeks, but once I picked it up, it quickly became one of the better decisions I'd made in a long time. I get compliments on both hats every time I wear them. I've even brought several friends to the store and everyone has left a few dollars poorer but with a properly crafted chapeau. I am left with one problem. What the hell to do with that bag of dog food...

As my longtime fear of birds have all of a sudden turned into a fashion obsession, I was delighted to see BFM on our way to PDT (forgive the acronyms) where my gal pals and I oh so carefully adorned and admired one another in exquisite head/hair apparel. What wonderful creatures we looked and honestly the sweetest milliners who took a look at our hair styles and textures before feathering us up. Of course, with such a selection and craftmanship, how could I not purchase my own set of feathers...I just hope one whom can grow their own pair won't mistake me as their own.

Don't waste your time. The hats here are very basic and the creativity of design does not justify the price. I was looking for something for my wedding and Ms. Feinman told me point blank that if it was for a wedding I would have to have a consultation (and I'm sure I'd pay a consultation fee!) even though I was looking for something basic and "non wedding". The prices are way too high - apparently they are stuck in pre recession land. You can do a lot better and have much nicer service on Etsy.

Spent a wonderful hour or so here! My husband bought me a gift certificate for a custom hat and they were wonderful. I left with a gorgeous hat and can't wait for the occasion to wear it!

Beautiful handmade hats! I was searching for a 20s/30s cloche for a retro jazz festival and came across this gem of a store. I fell in love with a few too many of them. Ended up buying one. It was expensive but worth it...And now I'm completely obsessed with vintage clothing/hats! I'll definitely be coming back soon!