Aage Thaarup
(Born 1906) Denmark. ...Born in Copenhagen,Denmark. Thaarup left school at sixteen to work in the millinery department of Copenhagen's leading fashion store, before travelling to Berlin, Paris and India. In 1932 he moved to London, starting his own millinery workshop and selling to high society as well as London designers, including the young Stiebel. Elizabeth: The Queen Mother - favoured Thaarup since soon after he set up shop in 4 Berkeley Street in 1932. He was responsible for her much-criticised hats, the wide brimmed hats with veils that the Queen Mother favoured into old age. The Duchess of Kent also wore his hats, and, launched some attractive versions of the up-swept hair-do and a hat that was worn perched forward on the head designed by Aage Thaarup for Ascot in 1938. During the Second World War worked on (coupon-free) hat collections. Post-war business blossomed, and he became one of the foremost names in British millinery. Author of Heads and Tails (London: Cassell 1956).
