Hi,
I agree it can be very difficult to find information on milliners, unless they were extremely well known there was not much written about them and their personal history. Hat makers were basically ignored by the fashion press (with the exception of New York and millinery trade publications), and they were sort of the poor second cousin to fashion/clothing designers. I have 2 Vera Whistler hats and they are both well made and a bit outrageous, and she did do some fairly high fashion and extreme hats, but she also designed for the more conservative tastes. I have not found anything referencing her prior to the early 1940's, nor have I ever seen a pre 1940 Vera W hat. The hats I have seen range from about 1945 to 1965. She probably was designing before 1945 but perhaps did not yet have her own label or was not selling her hats yet in department stores. Most of what I found were East of the Mississippi references, and I think she may have practiced out of Chicago but I have yet to confirm that. I agree there is no great interest to collectors for her hats, but if a really outrageous one comes along, then it does well. Her hats were never sold for the really high prices, she designed mostly for the average to upper middle class budget.
You mentioned the 1930's....can you please please share what you found? That would be great to know.
B
