About Lisa Farrell

"Founding Ooh-La-La was the realization of a life-long dream," says Lisa Farrell of her millinery shop and studio in downtown Highland Park. Inspired by the millinery salons of Paris, Ooh-La-La, her tres chic boutique, showcases her work as well as that of other milliners in a sumptuous setting. The shop's stunning decor features the sculptural beauty of Lisa's collection of over 400 vintage hat blocks, which she uses to shape her lavish and lovely creations.

Lisa's diverse professional background seems uniquely qualified for such an endeavor. Her career credits range from costume design to management to retail sales of women's apparel and accessories for the home. As a milliner she designs inspired fashion pieces intended to be worn and admired.

Lisa's hand-blocked felts, straws and fabric hats are often embellished with handmade flowers of her own creation. Silk embroidery, feathers and other well-crafted trims beautifully detail her classic and one-of-a-kind creations. In pieces such as her signature chapeau, which she calls "Big Bird," Lisa shows a sense of whimsy as well. The hat is a black satin pillbox crowned with rows of glorious iridescent coque feathers. The effect is humorous, startling, and no less than glamorous.

Lisa's work is known across the country and has been showcased internationally in The Hat Magazine from the United Kingdom in its January/February/March 2006 issue. Her dazzling designs have been featured in Lucky Magazine, Women's Wear Daily, numerous local papers such as: The Chicago Tribune and The Chicago Sun-Times just to name a few as well as appearances on ABC 7 News, WGN Morning News and CBS 2 News in Chicago.

Lisa's achievements have been many. Her proudest moment came in December 2002 when she was honored, along with her fellow colleagues of the Millinery Arts Alliance, as Victoria Magazine's "Entrepreneurs of the Year." What a thrill!

When asked to describe her work, Lisa sums up her hats as "Simply divine little confections for the head!"

 

 

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Chicago Fashion: Page 1

Essential Chicago: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4

Highland Park News: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3

The Hat Magazine: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4

Chicago Tribune Magazine: Page 1

Victoria: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3

The Wedding Channel: Page 1