Erik Braagaard: Milliner to the Elite

Erik Braagaard (1912–2004) was a prominent Danish milliner and hat designer known for dressing some of the world’s most affluent women. He began his career in Paris before eventually emigrating and establishing a successful hat salon in New York City around 1940.

Braagaard became highly regarded in the fashionable district around Fifth Avenue, opening salons on West 57th Street and later East 53rd Street. His unique, high-fashion creations were often featured in the society and style pages of the time. The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds several of his hats, highlighting his place in fashion history. His clientele included numerous members of high society and royal families, showcasing his transition from a Danish designer to a sought-after name in the exclusive world of American couture.

Braagaard continued his work, sometimes collaborating with designers like Adolfo Sardinia, until his death in New York in 2004. These vintage photos capture portraits of classic beauties wearing hats designed by Erik Braagaard.

Model wearing a charming bonnet of pink felt swathed in pink chiffon by Erik, photo by Frances McLaughlin, Vogue, March 1948

Barbara Mullen in shapely jacket, fitted and belted and curved for wide skirts in Russian broadtail by Ritter, a winging side-set white felt cloche by Erik, photo by Richard Rutledge, Vogue, March 1948

Betty Bridgers wearing a hat of pink, blonde and green tulle by Braagaard, jewelry by Tiffany, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, June 1948

Pat O'Reilly in charming gray-and-white spotted sundress with matching bolero by Frederic Starke, broderie Anglaise cloche by Erik, photo by Jay at the Villa Borghese, Harper's Bazaar UK, May 1949

Pat O'Reilly in classic plaid cotton shirtwaister by Dorville and piqué boater by Erik, photo by Jay at St. Peter in Rome, Harper's Bazaar UK, May 1949

Pat O'Reilly in suave cocoa-colored suit, jacket fastens with two buttons and tied with string belt by Bery, lime-green hat by Erik, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, September 1949

Pat O'Reilly wearing a black velvet pillbox covered with veiling by Erik, photo by Maurice Tabard, Harper's Bazaar UK, February 1949

Anne Gunning wearing a tiny black felt Mandarin hat with velvet brim and a coarse snood veil by Erik, photo by John French, Harper's Bazaarf UK, October 1950

Audrey Fildes wearing a cherry-colored papery straw hat with a flat velvet bow on the brim by Erik, photo by Henry Clarke at Syon Lodge, Harper's Bazaar UK, May 1950

Della Oake in bloused, belted jacket in black-and-white rayon basket weave pattern with huge sleeves that look like balloon cuffs over black wool dress by Hardy Amies, black wide brimmed hat by Erik, Harper's Bazaar UK, March 1950

June Duncan in narrow gray wool suit with high revers and hip pockets standing out below a waspish waist by Jacqmar, beige hat bound by chiffon by Erik, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, October 1950

Model in oatmeal linen suit garnished with black patent leather by Hardy Amies, shady straw hat tied with chiffon by Erik, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, May 1950

Model wearing a hat like a tambourine, worn high on the brow, masked with coarse veiling, of orange velvet and black ball fringe by Braagaard, brooch by Verdura, photo by Erwin Blumenfeld, Vogue, July 1950

Molly Vernier in suit by Matita, hat by Erik, Harper's Bazaar UK, May 1950

Part of Pat O'Reilly's very own trousseau, her going-away suit in mushroom pink with two fisher ties by Frederick Starke, violet parma hat by Erik, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, March 1950

Pat O'Reilly in oatmeal tweed suit by Travella, tweed sou' wester hat by Erik, photo by Maurice Tabard, Scotland, Harper's Bazaar UK, August 1950

Pat O'Reilly in straught black-and-white coat that tapers to the hem with important collar and cuffs by Hardy Amies, hat by Erik, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, September 1950

Anne Gunning in narrow, fitted suit in brown-and-white worsted collared with brown velvet and asymmetrical file of buttons, by Hardy Amies, white felt hat by Erik, photo by Henry Clarke, Harper's Bazaar, March 1951

Evelyn Tripp in black linen dress buttoned with rhinestones by Capri, white felt hat piped and bow-tied in black by Braagaard, photo by Frances McLaughlin, Vogue, April 1, 1951

June Duncan in pewter-colored worsted coat over a narrow dress to match, the pale gray lining of taffeta shantung is counterpointed in the sash by Hardy Amies, black straw cartwheel by Erik, photo by Henry Clarke, Harper's Bazaar UK, March 1951

Mary Jane Russell is wearing a straw pillbox with one dark red rose and fine sheer voilette by Braagaard, jewelry by Van Cleef & Arpels, photo by Cecil Beaton, Vogue, February 15, 1951

Pat O'Reilly in full-skirted mushroom-pink taffeta coat, buttoned over a dinner dress of mushroom-colored sequined tulle by Hardy Amies, turban hat by Erik, photo by Henry Clarke, Harper's Bazaar UK, March 1951

Anne Gunning in natural shantung dress, finely braided in an overall scroll design with flared skirt by Susan Small, black velvet hat with removable straw brim by Erik, photo by Richard Dormer, Cannes, Harper's Bazaar UK, June 1952

Barbara Mullen in a hand-knit nubbly yarn sweater jacket with the look and feel of fur to order at Aileen Rice, black velvet hat by Braagaard, dark crystal jewelry by Marvella, photo by Clifford Coffin, Vogue, August 1, 1952

Lisa Fonssagrives in black silk shantung suit, jacket has bell sleeves and skirt is wrap-around and slim, by Omar Kiam for Ben Reig, hat by Bragaard, photo by Frances McLaughlin, Vogue, April 1, 1952

Model in seductive dress that softens the line at the hips with a twist and flow of fabric in navy-blue Bianchini satin by Traina-Norell, navy-blue velvet hat by Braagaard, photo by Irving Penn, Vogue, September 1, 1952

Nina de Voogt in charcoal gray cotton suit with grosgrain band down the jacket front by Duchess Royal, gray felt hat by Braagaard, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, July 1, 1952

Sunny Harnett in the Norfolk coat, an elongation of a Norfolk jacket, with a casual low-waisted look in gray fleece by Traina-Norell, hat by Braagaard, photo by Irving Penn, Vogue, September 1, 1952

Suzy Parker in a GLMA ranch mink coat designed by Maximilian, hat by Braagaard, jewlery by Cartier, Vogue, November 15, 1952

Evelyn Tripp in a shapely late-day coat of black and white silk-and-wool tweed, closed with jeweled buttons by Philip Mangone, dotted silk roller by Braagaard, photo by Frances McLaughlin, Vogue, April 1, 1953