Olive, Frank

Frank Olive (b. 1929) was one of the foremost milliners from the 1950s through the 1990s. He began in San Francisco, designing costumes for a dance company, and in the early 1950s, moved to New York in hopes of designing for the stage. It was Norell who suggested to Olive that he try his hand at hats.

He obtained a position at Chanda, a popular millinery establishment, and soon opened his own tiny store in Greenwich Village, La Boutique. There he made and sold hats and accessories. He then expanded to producing hats wholesale, both under his own name, and for counterfeits. The Frank’s Girl label was a moderately priced line, with the Frank Olive label being his designer label. He also did a private collection for one-of-a-kind hats.

Olive was able to stick with hats through the increasingly hat-less 1960s by working with designers to produce hats to specifically go with their collections.

Today Frank Olive hats are designed by Gabriel Amar.

“It’s not the shape of the woman’s face that really decides, but the attitude of the hat.” Frank Olive

Written by by fuzzylizzie

from a 1960s tam and scarf set

Courtesy of alonesolo

from a 1960s hat

Courtesy of Elizabeth’s Timeless Attire

from a 1960s hat

Courtesy of vintagegent.com

from a 1960s hat

Courtesy of coutureallurevintage.com

from a 1990s hat

Courtesy of pastperfectvintage.com