LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- “Nice hat! That's what you want someone to say when you walk into Churchill Downs. It’s the biggest compliment you can get on Derby day.” And that’s why milliner Shawn Seiner named her Middletown hat shop: Nice Hat.

The storefront opened on Shelbyville Road in February in time for the 2024 Kentucky Derby season, though Siener has been making hats and fascinators for 30 years.

NICE HAT OPENS IN MIDDLETOWN 4-24-2024 (2).jpeg

Nice Hat opened on Shelbyville Road in Middletown by milliner Shawn Seiner in time for Kentucky Derby 150. (WDRB Image by Julie Dolan) April 24, 2024

"I attended my first derby when I was 20 years old, and I saw women with these beautiful hats, and I was a college student and couldn’t afford a hat, so I made one.” Siener said.

Over the years she’s hosted hat parties and sold them casually, but when she turned 50 last year, she decided to make a career of it.

“My husband said go do something fun, so I did,” she said.

The shop has more than 400 hats lining the walls, and they are selling quickly.

Siener said her styles are unique because she makes the flowers by hand, and often dyes the silk to match custom orders. She explained that you won’t find duplicates in her store, though she does prefer hats with florals rather than feathers.

The most popular color this year is pink, according to Seiner, who notes it’s not just for Oaks Day.

"I have tons of customers coming in and buying pink for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and they’re buying multiple pieces," she said.

Most of the hats at Nice Hat range between $300 to $400, but there are some options in the $100 to $200 range.

Nice Hat is open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Derby Day. Seiner is offering extended hours (9 a.m. to 9 p.m.) on Oaks Day, and she is also accepting private appointments.

Nice Hat is located at 11750 Shelbyville Road in Middletown. Learn more at Nice-Hat.com. 

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