Vanilla Beane was known as “DC’s Hat Lady” for the ionic hats she made for generations of the capitol’s women.
- Died: October 23, 2022 (Who else died on October 23?)
- Details of death: Died at a hospital in Washington, DC of complications following an aortic tear at the age of 103.
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DC’s Hat Lady
Beane was the founder and owner of Washington, DC’s Bené Millinery & Bridal Supplies. There, she made and sold elegant hats that were especially beloved by the city’s Black community. Drawing on the tradition of Black women wearing special hats to church each Sunday, Beane created hats that ranged from simple to elaborate and became well known far beyond the boundaries of the capitol. Her hats were worn by notable women including civil rights leader Dorothy Height (1912–2010). One of Beane’s hats can be seen in Height’s 2017 postage stamp, while another is displayed at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. She continued working in her shop six days a week, even past her 100th birthday. Beane’s unusual name was not a pseudonym; she was born Vanilla Powell, and in 1942, she married Willie George Beane.
Beane on her career
“It first started out… as a hobby. It got better. Each time I was encouraged by people, and so that helped me to keep going.” —from an interview for CBN
Tributes to Vanilla Beane
Full obituary: The Washington Post
