Guy Carsone, left, designer, milliner, and partner

Henri Bendel's on Fifth Avenue launched Guy Carsone's first millinery line in the fall of 2001. His creations - sometimes staid and conservative; sometimes ethereal flights of fancy - met with instant success. Soon after, his hats of all kinds were appearing at Zitomer's on Madison Avenue, Gallery Vercon in the East Village and many other of Manhattan's posh boutiques.

Previously with the firm of Beamon-Carsone, designing lines of table-top accessories and housewares which were carried by NYC's famous ABC Carpet and Barney's stores, Guy then opened Guy's Holiday Camp, designing and producing exquisite masks and remarkable high-end, all-season party wear featured by the Panache and Expressions catalogs, as well as Jacobson's in Florida and dozens of boutiques and party shops across the nation.

Successfully mixing vintage materials, classic silhouettes, and old world workroom techniques, Carsone is able to produce collections of stylish, sought-after hats, right in his own Carroll Gardens, President Street, HATS & boutique.

HATS & opened in October of 2003 in partnership with Diane Demsky. Located in Brooklyn's hot, new BoCoCa shopping district, and being one of the few places left in NYC where one can go for a hat truly "sized to fit," it has enjoyed rapid success.

Diane Demsky, right, partner

After more than twenty-five years as an educator, Diane had been looking for a way to use her interest in fashion and keen business savvy to bring something unique to her neighborhood. She entered into partnership with Guy, opening their HATS & boutique on the same block in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, where she has resided for the past eight years. With HATS & Diane feels that she is expanding her connection to the neighborhood, making new friends, and giving something back to the community.