Vanilla Beane facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vanilla Beane
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Vanilla Powell
September 13, 1919 Wilson, North Carolina, U.S.
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| Died | October 23, 2022 (aged 103) Washington, D.C., U.S.
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Vanilla Powell Beane (born Vanilla Powell; September 13, 1919 – October 23, 2022) was a famous American hat maker and businesswoman. She was known as "DC's Hat Lady" because she made beautiful hats for many people in Washington, D.C. One of her amazing hats is even kept in the National Museum of African American History and Culture. People in Washington, D.C. celebrate "Vanilla Beane Day" every year on September 13, her birthday!
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Early Life
Vanilla Beane was born in Wilson, North Carolina, on September 13, 1919. She was one of seven children in her family. Growing up, she worked on farms, helping with crops like tobacco and cotton. She went to a small, one-room school in Nash County, North Carolina. She finished high school in 1940.
Her Career
In the 1940s, Vanilla Beane moved to Washington, D.C.. She followed her two sisters there because there were more job opportunities. In 1942, she married Willie George Beane. She once joked that her name, Vanilla, combined with his last name, Beane, made "Vanilla Beane."
Learning to Make Hats
Vanilla Beane first worked as an elevator operator. This job was at a company called Washington Millinery and Supply. A "millinery" is a place where hats are made and sold. Being around all the fabrics and materials, she started making clothes, including hats. In 1955, she was hired as a seamstress at the company. She also worked as a mail clerk at another government office.
In 1975, Vanilla Beane was honored for her fashion work. She was added to the hall of fame of the National Association of Fashion and Accessory Designers. This group helps Black fashion professionals.
Opening Her Own Shop
In 1979, the hat shop where she worked moved away. Vanilla Beane decided to buy all the leftover supplies and equipment. She then opened her very own store called Bené Millinery & Bridal Supplies. Her shop was in the Manor Park neighborhood of Washington, D.C. She served the African American community in that area. Vanilla Beane kept working at her store several times a week, even after she turned 100 years old!
Famous Hats
Throughout her career, Vanilla Beane created custom hats for many important people. These included the famous poet Maya Angelou and civil rights leader Dorothy Height. One of Vanilla Beane's hats is even shown on a special postage stamp featuring Dorothy Height!
One of her hats is also a permanent part of the collection at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The museum even has a detailed 3D scan of a green velvet hat she made in the 1950s or 1960s. Because of her amazing work, the government of Washington, D.C., named September 13 as "Vanilla Beane Day" to honor her.
Her Later Years and Legacy
Vanilla Beane passed away on October 23, 2022, in Washington, D.C. She was 103 years old. The Mayor of Washington, D.C., Muriel Bowser, shared a statement about her passing. The Mayor said that Ms. Vanilla Beane showed what "Black excellence" means. She was "DC's Hat Lady" and an inspiration for many generations. She showed how you can turn your talent into a business you love so much that you keep doing it even when you are over 100!
Vanilla Beane had three children. Her husband passed away in 1993.
