Gladys Tamez: Milliner behind iconic celebrity headwear

Gladys Tamez, a Tex-Mex milliner, has gained international recognition for creating defining accessories for major pop icons. Her work includes the white cowboy hat worn by Beyoncé for the Cowboy Carter era, which helped establish the album's Western aesthetic.

Tamez's background is rooted in the border culture between Reynosa, Tamaulipas, and McAllen, Texas. She studied art in Monterrey and design in Florence before mastering millinery under Louise Green in Los Angeles. Her studio, Gladys Tamez Millinery, combines traditional craftsmanship with European design precision.

Each piece is handmade in her Los Angeles atelier, often using traditional blocks dating back to the 1920s and requiring up to eight hours of labor per item. Her high-profile clientele includes Cher and Lady Gaga, the latter of whom wore a Tamez-designed pink hat during the Joanne era.