In 2024, I won the Lillian Frank AM MBE Millinery Award at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup Carnival. It is Australia's most prestigious millinery award, and winning it was a full-circle moment that I will never forget.
"I started my career at Lillian Frank's salon in Toorak as a hair and makeup artist. To win an award bearing her name, decades later, as a milliner felt like the most beautiful kind of symmetry."
— Kathryn Lee
The Winning Piece: "It Girl"
My winning piece was called "It Girl," inspired by the bold spirit of 1960s fashion. I had noticed a resurgence of 1960s influences in collections from Celine, Balenciaga, and Chanel, and I wanted to capture that era's revolutionary energy while creating something thoroughly modern.
"It Girl" represents over 50 hours of hand beading, incorporating semi-precious stones including Malaysian jade and rose quartz. Each stone's placement was carefully considered for both visual impact and weight distribution. The piece was designed to feel as comfortable as it looks, because wearability matters as much as beauty.
About the Award
The Lillian Frank AM MBE Millinery Award is judged on craftsmanship, wearability, innovation, and suitability for the racing environment. Past judges and winners include some of the most respected names in Australian and international millinery. It is held annually during the Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington.
My Journey to Millinery
I grew up in Melbourne where my father was a racehorse trainer at Flemington until the late 1970s. That is where my love of racing culture began. After living overseas, I returned to Australia from Chicago in 2014, opened a women's boutique in Potts Point, and began exploring millinery seriously. I enrolled in masterclasses with some of Australia's top milliners, including Neil Grigg, Catherine Kelly, Jill Humphries, and Louise McDonald, before completing my Certificate II in Millinery at TAFE NSW.
During the first Covid lockdown, I closed the boutique and focused full-time on millinery from my home studio. It was the best decision I ever made.
What Comes Next
My "It Girl" capsule collection expands on the concepts in the winning design. I am also excited about representing Australian millinery at international events like Royal Ascot, while continuing to push creative boundaries from my Sydney atelier.
