Allison Lyndes is the winner of Bes-Ben: Humor and High Design Competition hosted by the Milliners Guild.  The piece titled Roll for Initiative! Was inspired by the game Dungeons & Dragons, with inspiration drawn from Bes-Ben motifs and techniques.

With a background in theatre studies, Allison completed a bachelor’s degree in Theatre from the University of Vermont.  It was during these studies she came to millinery and began working as a milliner and costuming for St. Michael’s College (Vermont) and the Colorado Shakespeare Festival.

Following her studies, Allison has gone on to establish herself as a theatrical milliner and specialist in cosplay pieces.  Her work has been included in artisan events such as the One of a Kind Show Chicago (2013), and in theatrical productions from the LA Opera to a Broadway National Tour.  Allison works from her home studio in Colorado, USA.

You can see all of the entires from the Bes-Ben: Humor and High Design Competition here https://www.millinersguild.org/besben-all-entries

The pieces will be on display at NorthPark Center in Dallas, TX March 7 – May 15. The finalist hats will be displayed alongside pieces from the Texas Fashion Collection, including hats by Stephen Jones, Cristobal Balenciaga, Byron Lars, and Bes-Ben himself.

The finalist hats will then travel to New York City in June for a display in the Garment Center Window on West 38th Street along with competition entries by Milliners Guild members.