Chippenham Museum’s latest, free exhibition Threads: Clothing, Memory and Identity features outstanding headpieces worn by Lady Gaga during the superstar’s 2024 Las Vegas Residency Jazz & Piano.
These pieces were made by Carrie Jenkinson, an internationally renowned milliner who has designed hats for royalty and celebrities including Beyonce. Her work has been featured in Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar.
Carrie grew up in Wiltshire, attended the London School of Fashion and she now works out of her studio in Sutton Benger.
Her work came to a dramatic halt in 2023, when an accident left Carrie with a fractured skull and two brain haemorrhages. The brain injury meant Carrie had to relearn everyday tasks as well as her millinery skills. At her lowest Carrie received a much-needed boost when Lady Gaga’s team reached out to her to design a collection of headpieces for her Residency.
As a fan of Lady Gaga, Carrie couldn’t turn down the opportunity to work with her “perfect client”. Gaga wore four designs by Carrie during the residency, all of which can be seen on display in the exhibition at Chippenham Museum.
Threads: Clothing, Memory and Identity runs until Saturday 1 November 2025. This exhibition celebrates all things fashion, exploring ideas of memory and identity through the clothes we wear. Along with these headpieces, highlights of the exhibition include a range of costumes, accessories, and ephemera dating from the early 18th century through to the present day, all of which have amazing stories connected to the local area.
“We are so excited to be able to display these hats, made by the brilliant Carrie Jenkinson for none other than Lady Gaga,” said Melissa Barnett, Head of Museum and Heritage. “The fashion credentials of Chippenham and the local area are truly awe-inspiring.”
About working with Lady Gaga, Carrie said, “Having someone like Lady Gaga inspire me and give me the opportunity to create is just really something. I live in a tiny village, I’m not based in London, so it just really means so much to me. She has so much confidence in the way she looks, she’s not afraid to embrace design, she’s not afraid to try new and smaller designers.”
