Lilly DACHÉ was an American milliner and fashion merchandiser. She was born in France and moved to New York City in 1924, where she got a job at the small bonnet shop, then became a saleswoman at Macy's, and later bought out her friend's share in the bonnet shop and opened her own millinery business. The peak of her business career was in the 1930s-1940s. Her contribution to the millinery industry included creating renowned, custom-made hats for wealthy women, celebrities, socialites, and movie stars. Her business flourished in spite of the Great Depression and World War II and her hats cost approximately ten times the average price of a women's hat of that time. Her millinery workshop located in New York with branches in Paris. In 1931, designer married French-born Jean DESPRES who was an executive at the large cosmetics and fragrance company, Coty. Thus she expanded her clothing line to include dresses, perfume, and jewelry. She became president of three cosmetics companies, Lilly Dache, Marie Earle and Lucien Lelong, all of which were later purchased by Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. Her last hats she sold to actress Loretta YOUNG and retired in 1968. Died in 1989 in Louveciennes, France, at an age of 97.