COOL JOBS: ‘Everyone Should Be Able To Afford A Crown’ – Ellie Platt Creates Elaborate Headpieces

by Kerri Cooke

If you’re active on TikTok and love Louisiana Mardi Gras, you might have come across videos by Ellie Platt. She boasts 71K followers and is a native of New Orleans who specializes in making affordable headpieces for special events. She had years of experience to build upon once she opened her business, Crowned by Ellie.

“Growing up my mom had a ton of Mardi Gras luncheons every year, and I would help make headbands for her table,” Platt says. While attending LSU, she was often asked where she bought the headbands she was wearing. Crowned by Ellie gained its footing in 2020 after Platt made a hat that resembled the Superdome. While originally operating solely on Instagram, she now sells her headpieces in boutiques and crownedbyellie.com.

When designing a headpiece, Platt asks the customer to give her an idea of what they want before she begins the creative process. She notes “it does hurt to be beautiful” but that her mission is to make a headpiece as light as possible to avoid giving the wearer any discomfort. Platt worked on a headpiece inspired by a Mardi Gras bead tree and says she sourced branches locally and overseas to obtain the lightest ones. When finished with a project, Platt says, “I find so much joy in seeing people’s faces when they see their headpiece. It’s priceless.”

While Platt does headpieces for many different holidays and events, ships around the world, and is busiest between football season and the Kentucky Derby, her Mardi Gras collections hold a special place in her heart. She often creates headpieces for entire krewes. She enjoys the challenge of creating based on the many different themes in Mardi Gras celebrations and praises how the holiday connects people with their community. Platt says this year she will be Queen of the Krewe of Tucks and there is much anticipation around her crown reveal.

Apart from Mardi Gras, a headpiece that gained Platt much fanfare was a Bridgerton-inspired teapot design. It is her most viewed video on TikTok. She claims this piece as her favorite “because it put me on the map.” Recent work has included a Christmas collection and a rose-inspired headpiece to celebrate the Oregon Ducks competing in the Rose Bowl. She regularly produces items for the major colleges in the South including LSU, Tulane, and Ole Miss, but can apply her designs to any team.

Platt strongly believes in the transforming power of personal expression. “There’s something about putting on a headpiece. You stand a little taller. Your back gets a little straighter. The moment you put on a headpiece you gain confidence,” Platt says.