Laura Del Villaggio earned a Certificate in Millinery from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York in 1999 and her award-winning business, Milli Starr, was established in Austin in 2004. Milli Starr is known for exquisite craftsmanship, sophisticated details, and a vintage-inspired elegance that complements a modern wardrobe. Original hats have been spotted in print and digital publications, on the runway, stage, and screen, and at horse races around the world.

Laura possesses over 30 years experience in fashion history, design, and construction and has worked as a clothing and textile curator and conservator, vintage dealer, fiber arts instructor, retail manager, and theater costume designer, all prior to diving into millinery full-time in 2012. She enjoys creating hats for clients, as well as teaching both group and private classes. Many of her former students now own millinery businesses and/or hat shops.

Laura is an active member of the Milliners Guild and is currently serving as Treasurer. In 2022, she co-curated the Hats: Humor & High Design exhibition at NorthPark Center, a collaborative project of the Texas Fashion Collection and the Guild featuring 28 hats created by contemporary and historic milliners. In 2024, Laura was one of six instructors at Millinery Meetup, a biennial conference in East Tennessee that is regarded as North America’s foremost millinery educational and social event.