Fashion Design alum Jacey Rhorer '00 is making her mark as the Official Milliner for the 2025 Kentucky Derby Festival.

Columbia College Chicago School of Fashion alum Jacey Rhorer ’00 has been named the Official Milliner for the 2025 Kentucky Derby Festival—a major milestone in her career as a hat designer and owner of Rhorer Couture Millinery. For those unfamiliar, millinery is the art of designing, creating, and selling hats and headwear. Designers in this field are known as milliners. 

While the Kentucky Derby itself is famous for its race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, the Kentucky Derby Festival is a months-long celebration leading up to the big day—featuring fashion, fireworks, parades, and more. 

“The Kentucky Derby Festival is like Mardi Gras leading up to Fat Tuesday,” Rhorer explains. “It kicks off in February and includes a packed calendar of events, from the Dillard’s Spring Fashion Show—where I design 60-70 hats just for the runway—to Thunder Over Louisville, the largest annual fireworks event in the U.S.”  

As the Official Milliner, Rhorer is actively involved in many of these festivities, whether setting up a shopping booth at the “They’re Off! Luncheon,” where past speakers have included Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts and Sugar Ray Leonard or appearing as a VIP in the Pegasus Parade. She also created 50 hand-blocked hats leading up to the festival for Dillard’s Spring Fashion Show on March 27. 

Rhorer’s journey to this career milestone is a testament to passion, hard work, and the strong foundation she built at Columbia. Originally from Henderson, Kentucky, she began her studies in fashion merchandising at Western Kentucky University but discovered her true calling when she transferred to Columbia’s School of Fashion. A millinery class—taken on a whim—set the stage for her future. 

She quickly immersed herself in the city's fashion scene, landing an internship at Linda Campisano Millinery in Bloomingdale’s on Michigan Avenue, where she refined her hat-making skills and even sold custom pieces to Steve Martin and Helena Bonham Carter. 

After graduating, Rhorer remained in Chicago, working in retail management and refining her millinery skills. Her experience in the city allowed her to build a strong foundation in both design and business before relocating to Lexington, Kentucky.  

There, her work was discovered by a handful local boutique owners, who began carrying her designs. This opportunity marked the start of her career as a professional milliner in 2010 when she launched his first millinery business, J and J Design. In 2024 she reinvented her business as Rhorer Couture with the tagline “See Me Rhorer,” reflecting her mission to help women feel confident and empowered through her designs. Her growing reputation led to a partnership with the Kentucky Derby Festival, culminating in her official title as the festival’s milliner for 2025.   

Rhorer Couture is now a fixture in Lexington and Louisville, Kentucky, and is available online at www.rhorercouture.com. “This role is not just about creating beautiful hats,” Rhorer says. “It’s about empowering others to stand tall, embrace their uniqueness, and step into the spotlight with confidence.”   

Q&A with Jacey Rhorer '00

What is the process for being selected as the official Kentucky Derby Festival milliner? 
The festival draws many talented milliners, so I knew I had to stand out. At the 2024 Kentucky Derby Festival Dillard’s Spring Fashion Show, I wore a bold Rhorer Couture fascinator—and it got noticed. The Dillard’s store manager approached me, which led to connections, a meeting, and an interview with the festival team. Our visions aligned instantly. I brought the energy, passion, and flair that matched the festival’s spirit. I showed up, stood out—and was named the sole Official Milliner for the 2025 Kentucky Derby Festival and beyond.

What do you enjoy most about this collaboration? 
What I love about working with the Kentucky Derby Festival is how well our values align. The festival celebrates fun, family, community, and diversity—and showcases the best of our beautiful state all spring, leading up to Derby Day. Just like my designs, the Kentucky Derby Festival offers something for everyone, no matter their age, culture, interests, or background. 

How does your design process differ for hats worn at events like the Kentucky Derby versus everyday wear? 
All my Derby hats are hand-blocked using sinamay, a natural straw made from abaca fibers. It’s dyeable, shapeable, and perfect for sculpting bold silhouettes in vivid colors. Most Rhorer Couture hats feature handmade flowers—each petal individually cut and burned—and feather trims. I love using peacock feathers, as seen in my logo! Fun fact: for my senior fashion show at Columbia College, I designed a dress with over 200 real peacock feathers. Everyday hats, like floppy beach hats, are typically factory-made with more durable straws, designed primarily for sun protection. While my hats do provide shade, their true purpose is to make a statement. 

How did your time at Columbia contribute to your successful career today? 
Columbia was a turning point. Coming from a small town and moving to Chicago gave me access to a world of new experiences, cultures, and creative energy. It helped me grow both personally and professionally. Every class felt like it was fueling my passion—and that affirmed I was on the right path toward a career I’d truly enjoy. 

What's your favorite hat-related fashion moment in history or pop culture? 
The Royal Wedding in 2011. Prince William and Catherine Middleton tied the knot just one week before the Kentucky Derby, and I had just launched my business. The press coverage of all the fascinators and hats worn that day created a huge surge in interest, and my phone did not stop ringing. It gave my business a major boost right out of the gate! 

If you could design a hat for any celebrity, who would it be and what would you create? 
It would have to be Helena Bonham Carter. She’s authentic, quirky, bold, and completely unapologetic—plus a fellow hat lover and art lover. One of my favorite quotes is from her: "I think everything in life is art. What you do. How you dress. The way you love someone and how you talk. Your smile and your personality. What you believe in, and all your dreams. The way you drink your tea. How you decorate your home. Your grocery list. The food you make. How your writing looks. And the way you feel. Life is art.” 

I met her during my internship at Linda Campisano Millinery. She was filming a movie in Chicago and would stop by the boutique with Steve Martin. I made her some small flower hair clips—and now, over 20 years later, it would be an absolute dream to create a full couture hat just for her.  

How has your definition of success evolved throughout your career? 
To me, success has always meant loving what you do, supporting your family, and lifting others up along the way. I’m proud to say I’ve built a business that allows me to do all three. As my brand has grown, so has its impact—I’ve empowered thousands of women to stand tall, stand out, and shine in Rhorer Couture Millinery.

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