The Willow Glen Resident Photograph by Skye Dunlap Heady Business: Lincoln Avenue milliner Michelle Rose Jorgensen learned her trade after designing her own bridal veil. Rose Mille features designer hats, bridal veils and classes in how to make them Second member of WG family opens store on Lincoln Avenue By Michelle Ku Milliners are hard to find, but beginning this week, one is hanging her hat on Lincoln Avenue. Michelle Rose Jorgensen, a milliner who has made and sold hats for the past eight years, opened Rose Mille at 1203 Lincoln Ave. on Sept. 22. Rose Mille is a vintage fashion boutique with a fun, whimsical attitude, Jorgensen says. In addition to selling designer clothing and hats, the boutique also features some small home furnishings and gift items. Several of the items, including Adirondack chairs made by Jorgensen's stepfather, will be handmade. "I'm really into bringing skilled craftspeople," Jorgensen says. Jorgensen has her own hat and bridal veil designs for sale and will make minor alterations to others'. She will also be making some custom hats and bridal veils on an exclusive and limited basis. What sets her boutique apart from others up and down Lincoln Avenue is the store's classroom and fabrics room. Rose Mille will offer classes on making items such as bridal veils, Christmas stockings and ornaments, curtains, ribbon flowers and, of course, hats. "I have someone who makes ottomans. I'm looking for people who can come in and teach. They need to be really skilled in their craft," Jorgensen says. Once the Rose Mille receives more of its inventory, Jorgensen says, the fabrics room will be the home for silks, other vintage fabrics and new linens. New and used patterns as well as such embellishments as buttons and ribbons also will be stocked. Since Jorgensen and her husband are doing the renovation work to the building themselves, the classroom will not be ready for use until October, she says. When the classroom is completed, Rose Mille will hold a grand-opening celebration. Rose Mille isn't Jorgensen's first venture into the business world. She owned and operated Michelle Rose Designs on Meridian Avenue for eight years. That business was a custom-made hats and bridal veils enterprise. When Jorgensen purchased more than 300 vintage wooden hat blocks from the 1930s, '40s and '50s on Mother's Day last year, she decided it was time to open her own shop. Choosing a name was simple. "Mill is a derivative from my grandmother Millie Rose. I thought Mill Rose was too close to Melrose, so I thought Rose Mille and it just stuck. Also, mill is close to milliner," she says. Jorgensen has been sewing since she was 2 years old, but was not involved in millinery until 1990, when she made a bridal veil for her wedding. The floral designer for her wedding started sending her clients, and that was the beginning of Jorgensen's millinery and bridal veil career. "From there I bought every book on the subject, and I've taken every class that I can find either on the West Coast or on the East Coast. I also collect old millinery books, and I plan on republishing them," Jorgensen said. Rose Mille is the second store on the Avenue owned by someone from the Rose family. Mio Vicino is owned by Jorgensen's little sister, Diana Rose. A Web site for the store is forthcoming. Rose Mille is open Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. The store is closed on Mondays. For more information regarding Rose Mille's upcoming schedule of classes, call 280-7892 or email rosemille@aol.com. [ Back to Contents Page | Willow Glen Resident Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Willow Glen Resident, September 23, 1998. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.