About the Author

Cynthia Marek Lundeen, owner of Cynthia’s Centuries of Style, is dedicated to the creation of fine millinery and bridal headpieces for women and fine hats for gentlemen. With an emphasis on custom creations for private clients, Cynthia’s creations have also been shown at Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus.

Her millinery has been the subject of numerous articles in various publications in the U.S. and internationally, including The Washington Post, The Cleveland Plain Dealer, Currents, The Lexington Herald Leader, HATalk (U.K.) and her work has been featured on the covers of the magazine I Am Today’s Woman.

As an invited guest speaker, she is known for the adage "What is learned with pleasure is learned full measure." Cynthia has delighted the audiences of numerous organizations on the topic of millinery and history, including The Cleveland Museum of Art, Lawnfield, The James A. Garfield National Historic Site, The Western Reserve Historical Society, The College Club of Cleveland, The Columbus Cultural Arts Center, among others. She has also been the invited guest instructor of millinery seminars. Her hats have appeared on American Greetings birthday cards and she is a past first prize winner of the Churchill Downs Kentucky Derby Hat Contest sponsored by the Fashion Shop in the year 2001.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued a patent for her original idea which she has applied to Cynthia’s Princess Purse®, an innovative, unique and charming purse in the figure of a young princess, the skirt being the purse, opening through the bustle in the back . Not a damsel in distress, Cynthia’s Princess Purse® stands alone as a Princess for our times and all times, encouraging self reliance, compassion for others and a sense of connection through the thread which binds us all. Information on Cynthia’s Princess Purse® can be found at http://www.cynthiascastletreasures.com/.

Cynthia received her Millinery Certificate from the Virginia Marti College of Art and Design and studied the issues and methods of history at Case Western Reserve University. She had commenced her college studies at Cleveland State University, later attending Lake Erie College (founded 1856) where she received her Bachelor of Science degree, graduating    summa cum laude.