Gladys Tamez

Gladys Tamez
Gladys Tamez
Born
NationalityMexican, American
OccupationMilliner
OrganizationCouncil of Fashion Designers of America
Known forFashion design
Notable workLady Gaga's Joanne hat, Taylor Swift's "22" fedora
Websitegladystamez.com
Lady Gaga in a custom Gladys Tamez Millinery bedazzled hat

Gladys Tamez (born in McAllen, Texas) is a Mexican-American haute couture milliner or hat designer. She founded her eponymously named Gladys Tamez Millinery or "GTM" in Los Angeles in 2012.[1] Tamez is listed in Forbes magazine in 2015 as one of the most creative Mexicans in the world.[2] Her sculptural hats have graced the covers of Assouline, and she is a member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America.[3]

Early life

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Born in McAllen, Texas, Tamez was raised inside of Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico, and Monterrey, Mexico, in a family of Taurina bullfighters. Her mother, Elizabeth Tamez, owned a local bookstore called Tivoli, and at 10, she was reading Vogue. Tamez attended art school in Florence, Italy, where her initial designs were created. While traveling in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain, Tamez discovered a small hat shop run by four generations of milliners that inspired her to focus on hat design.[4]

Hat design inspiration

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Her creations are inspired by a range of sources from the Studio 54 era in New York City with Bianca Jagger and Cher, the architecture of John Lautner, and Mexican film stars Dolores del Río and María Félix.[5] In an interview with Purple, she states, "Everything is handmade. I don't have machines to make four or five at once. I still make them with woodblocks. Handmade is an old tradition that I want to keep alive."[6] Regarding her creations, Tamez told Flaunt Magazine, “You wonder who's going to wear it. It's the fantasy of imagining the life it will have. I always say, pick the hat that goes with you and not with your clothing. You wear the hat, the hat doesn't wear you.”[7] ¡Hola! named her in the list of the Top 100 Latina Powerhouse creatives.[8]

Career

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Custom hats

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Lady Gaga Joanne Hat

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Tamez is best known for her work with Lady Gaga, for whom she created the famous Joanne pink hat for the Joanne World Tour.[9][10][11] Gaga personally called Tamez hours before the launch of her fifth studio album to share the news that Tamez's design made the album cover. Gaga also wore GTM's "Lady Bianca" and "Lady Marianne" hats, inspired by Bianca Jagger and English singer Marianne Faithfull.[12] Tamez also spoke to Vogue about how she designed a "Gypsy Rose Lee meets Bob Mackie" Swarovski crystal hat worth one million dollars for Gaga's performance on the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.[13] Gaga wore Tamez's designs for performances on Saturday Night Live (accompanied by Mark Ronson, BloodPop, and Hillary Lindsey, and hosted by Tom Hanks), The Late Late Show with James Corden, The X Factor UK, Alan Carr's Happy Hour, SMAP×SMAP, and Royal Variety Performance.[14][15][16]

Taylor Swift "22" Fedora Hat

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Tamez designed the fedora worn by Taylor Swift during the song "22" in The Eras Tour.[17] Swift gives out the hat to a fan every night of her tour.[18] Tamez shared with Access Hollywood that Swifties send her letters about how much they love Swift's hat.[19][20][21]

Taylor Swift in her custom Gladys Tamez "22" fedora

Beyoncé "Houston" Hat

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Beyoncé wore Tamez's "Houston" design in Country music singles "16 Carriages" and "Texas Hold 'Em" released following her Verizon commercial announcement during Super Bowl LVIII.[22] Beyoncé also used Tamez's hat designs for her Super Bowl XLVII halftime show.[23]

Celebrity hats

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Kendall Jenner has a GTM hat named and designed for her called the "Kenny", which has become a cult favorite.[24] Rapper Future was deemed "Lord of the Brim" on the cover of GQ for his wide array of GTM hats, which he also used in his "Stick Talk" music video and throughout his album DS2.[25][26] Katy Perry wore a bespoke GTM pillbox hat when meeting Pope Francis at the Vatican with her husband Orlando Bloom.[27] Pop star Dua Lipa featured Tamez's cowboy hats prominently in her "Love Again" music video.[28] Becky G performed with Peso Pluma at Coachella in a bespoke cowboy hat in 2023.[29] Sia uses GTM hats as a signature over her iconic split blonde and black wigs for performances.[30] Anahí from RBD wore a custom sparkly pink cowboy from the group's sold-out tour for her iconic "Sálvame" song.[31] Shakira wore Tamez's custom designs in her music video for "El Jefe" with Fuerza Regida.[32]

Gladys Tamez Millinery's flagship bespoke atelier is located in downtown Los Angeles in the Arts District, where Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid are known to frequent.[33][34]

Notable clients

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Tamez is also associated with celebrities including Madonna, Shakira, Johnny Depp, Jay-Z, David Bowie, Kim Kardashian, Alicia Keys, Cher, Janet Jackson, Salma Hayek, Jennifer Lopez, Cindy Crawford, Travis Barker, Jane Fonda, Demi Lovato, Future, Lil Nas X, Ariana Grande, Sia, Kylie Jenner, Kourtney Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian, Erin Wasson, Kate Upton, DeAndre Jordan, Joe Perry, Neil Young, Beck, Emily Ratajkowski, Nicole Trunfio, Queen Latifah, Neil Young, Hailey Bieber, Nathalie Kelley, LeBron James, Vanessa Hudgens, Kelly Wearstler, Blue Ivy Carter, Rosalía, Maluma, Ringo Starr, Beck, Megan Thee Stallion, and Cardi B.[35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43]

Lady Gaga in her signature rose Gladys Tamez Joanne hat
Lady Gaga in a custom "Lady Bianca" hat by Gladys Tamez
Lady Gaga in a "Lady Marianne" hat Gladys Tamez design
Lady Gaga on her Joanne World Tour wearing a Gladys Tamez design

Personal life

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Tamez resides in Los Angeles.

References

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  1. ^ Troeller, Melissa (March 19, 2021). "Meet Gladys Tamez". sblifeandstyle. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  2. ^ "Los 50 mexicanos más creativos en el mundo" [The 50 most creative Mexicans in the world]. Forbes Mexico (in Mexican Spanish). December 18, 2015. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  3. ^ "Gladys Tamez". CFDA. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  4. ^ Zelevansky, Nora (April 28, 2015). "Hats Off to Modern Milliners". T Magazine. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  5. ^ Nelson, Steffie (September 26, 2022). "Lady Gaga's Favorite Hatmaker". Alta Online. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  6. ^ "Tamez gladys - purple MAGAZINE". Purple (in French). Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  7. ^ "GLADYS TAMEZ | It's Said the Top of Your Head Is Where Fantasy Is Exhausted and Obtained". flaunt.com. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  8. ^ "Gladys Tamez". HOLA. October 5, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  9. ^ "Lady Gaga's Million-Dollar Hat Designer on the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show Topper Everyone Is Talking About". Vogue. December 5, 2016. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  10. ^ McKenzie, Lesley (September 30, 2021). "From Lady Gaga to Lil Nas X, Celebs Tip Their Hats to Milliner Gladys Tamez". Variety. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  11. ^ "Lady Gaga Wore a $1 Million Hat to the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show". Teen Vogue. December 2, 2016. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  12. ^ Saunders, Nicole (September 27, 2017). "Lady Gaga's 'Joanne' Hat Has a Story to Tell". Billboard. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  13. ^ "Lady Gaga's Million-Dollar Hat Designer on the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show Topper Everyone Is Talking About". Vogue. December 5, 2016. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  14. ^ "Saturday Night Live: Watch Lady Gaga Slay "A-Yo" and "Million Reasons"". Vanity Fair. October 23, 2016. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  15. ^ "Watch Lady Gaga Perform "A-Yo," "Million Reasons" on "SNL"". Pitchfork. October 23, 2016. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  16. ^ Nolfi, Joey (October 23, 2016). "Lady Gaga SNL: singer rocks through A-YO, Million Reasons". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  17. ^ "Taylor Swift Kicks Off Eras Tour with Career-Spanning 44-Song Setlist". People. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  18. ^ "Meet the LA designer behind Taylor Swift's '22' hat that's changing lives: 'It's been beautiful'". ABC7 Los Angeles. August 5, 2023. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  19. ^ Access (August 9, 2023), Taylor Swift's '22' Hatmaker Gladys Tamez Shares Behind-The-Scenes Look At Making Of Iconic Fedora | Access, retrieved August 10, 2023
  20. ^ Chuck Schilken (August 4, 2023). "A perfect night? Kobe Bryant's daughter gets Taylor Swift's '22' hat during L.A. concert". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  21. ^ Blistein, Jon (August 4, 2023). "Taylor Swift Gave Kobe and Vanessa Bryant's Daughter Her 'Red'-Era Fedora". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  22. ^ "Houston". Gladys Tamez Millinery. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  23. ^ "Lady Gaga's Joanne Hats: Meet the Designer, Gladys Tamez". Peoplemag. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  24. ^ "Kendall Jenner channels early 00s popstar with her seriously nostalgic summer accessory". HELLO!. July 26, 2022. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  25. ^ "Proof That Future is the Best Accessorized Man in the World Right Now". GQ. April 18, 2016. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  26. ^ "gladys tamez millinery — Fashion". fashionado. July 9, 2016. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  27. ^ "Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom Reunite with a Couples Style Moment in Rome". Vogue. May 1, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  28. ^ "Every Fashion Detail You Missed in Dua Lipa's 'Love Again' Music Video". Grazia USA. June 4, 2021. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  29. ^ Ayoud, Amina (April 15, 2023). "Becky G Goes Western for Coachella 2023 Performance in Rhinestoned Bra, Cowboy Hat & Nike Air Force 1 Sneakers". Footwear News. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  30. ^ "Sia Reveals the Unexpected Reason Behind Her Wigs". Glamour. February 17, 2016. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  31. ^ Sánchez, Anna Brenda (August 29, 2023). "Taylor Swift y Anahí usaron la misma marca mexicana de sombreros". Marie Claire México (in Spanish). Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  32. ^ Mier, Tomás (September 21, 2023). "Shakira Enters Her Corrido Era With the Help of Fuerza Régida on 'El Jefe'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  33. ^ "Here's What It's Like To Make Couture Hats For Lady Gaga". Bravo TV Official Site. February 1, 2017. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  34. ^ "Kendall Jenner & Gigi Hadid's appointment at Gladys Tamez Millinery — Fashion". fashionado. June 10, 2016. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  35. ^ "Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom Reunite with a Couples Style Moment in Rome". Vogue. May 1, 2018. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  36. ^ "61 Latino-owned small businesses in L.A. to celebrate all year round". Los Angeles Times. September 9, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  37. ^ Elgart, Olivia (February 24, 2022). "Kendall Jenner Shows Off Incredibly Toned Abs In Sexy Cutout Swimsuit For Cover Of 'i-D'". Hollywood Life. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  38. ^ "Nobody Had More Fun at Paris Fashion Week Than Cardi B". Vogue. October 4, 2021. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  39. ^ Wasilak, Sarah (August 23, 2021). "Demi Lovato's "Melon Cake" Video Is a Burst of Energy and Colorful Designer Looks to Match". POPSUGAR Fashion. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  40. ^ Vingan, Alyssa (September 8, 2021). "Travis Barker Is The Pop-Punk Patriarch Of SoCal". Nylon. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  41. ^ "Ariana Grande's Winning The Voice Style Includes a Vintage Score". Vogue. October 20, 2021. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  42. ^ ElHorizonte. "Gladys Tamez orgullo mexicano". elhorizonte (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  43. ^ "Mexican Hat Maker Designs Iconic Hats for Celebrities". La Prensa. April 19, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2023.

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