“A good hat is the ultimate glamour accessory.” I could not agree more with the words of inspiration and milliner to the stars, Philip Treacy. As a fellow milliner for bridal and events wear, I am fascinated by how the world of headwear is constantly evolving, offering endless possibilities for today’s brides and their guests to accessorise in a truly unique way. With so many choices, the process of selecting your perfect headpiece may, at first, appear overwhelming. I personally believe, however, that this is what makes the journey so magical. Gone are the restrictions of hats and who wears them. With the multitude of shapes and styles on offer, there is something out there to suit everyone, making it totally possible to find the perfect headpiece to complement your bridal attire with decadence and individuality.
In Bloom
I totally adore flower crowns and believe they capture the essence of bridal headwear in a whimsical, romantic style that perfectly echoes the women of the Pre-Raphaelites, working successfully with or without a veil. While fresh flowers give a stunning, organic feel to your ensemble (particularly when mimicking elements of your bouquet), artificial and handmade garlands provide the scope to bring in alternative textures and details that you can keep forever. Inspired by the blossom of the guelder rose, or, as it is more commonly known , the snowball tree, my personal response to the traditional flower crown features oversized, luxurious silk pom poms nestled together in a sumptuous bridal wreath. Pair this with a beaded or off-the-shoulder wedding dress for Renaissance style elegance with a contemporary twist.
Bold and Beautiful
As we all know, the spectrum of traditional bridal tones has a lot more to offer than just white and ivory alone. Picking up accent colours of your outfit, makeup or jewellery and bringing them into your headpiece is a fantastic way to tie the various elements of your wedding ensemble together with elegance and sophistication. Suitable for guests as well, bold silhouettes such as the iconic, statement boater or pillbox are made timeless by their vintage heritage and constant reinventions, and are a perfect complement to a high neck dress or trouser suit, particularly if colour-matched to coordinate with another accessory. A large bow at the back works well as an alternative to a traditional veil and adds a sleek touch. To add a level of drama to your outfit, why not finish this look with a striking birdcage face veil, scattered with Swarovski crystals.
Stardust
Celestial themed weddings have been a strong trend for the past couple of years, and it’s no surprise why. With rich colours, fabrics and metallics coming into the forefront of bridalwear, stars, moons and astrology are stunning themes to explore and accessorise with in a subtle or dramatic way. Inspired by the opulence of Hedy Lamarr in the 1941 masterpiece Ziegfeld Girl, halos and headpieces adorned with stars are a perfect accessory to encapsulate some celestial magic in a bold, feminine style. Stars and moons will always be a glorious bridal motif and play on themes of constellations and compatibility, and who doesn’t love a bit of sparkle? There is so much scope when considering metallics as part of your bridal colour palette; from shimmering, star-studded crowns to more avant-garde headpieces fit for a goddess. Silver and gold complement the majority of traditional bridal fabrics, so the sky (or should I say the night sky) really is your limit when considering the perfect celestial headpiece.
Crowning Glory
On the theme of opulent headwear, jewelled crowns and tiaras are a stunning alternative bridal accessory that effectively complement a range of outfits and styles. From regal, colourful coronets, to delicate, intricately crafted hair vines, there is an array of possibilities available when considering wire work and jewels. I am a complete magpie when it comes to millinery and love creating wire wrapped headpieces; I believe they really finish off a bridal hairstyle in an effortless, elegant fashion. The process of selecting what stunning crystals and beads to use is endlessly satisfying and I personally love creating jewelled pieces that pick up the accent colours of a bride’s chosen outfit. For a bohemian look, I would recommend incorporating a wire wrapped vine into your chosen hairstyle. These look particularly effective with fishtail braids or a gorgeous ‘messy’ up-do.
Instagram: @immyhmillinery
Photography: Richard Wakefield
Model: Lottie Goodchild
Wearing: Rosie Red Corsetry and Couture
Millinery: Immy Howard Millinery
HMUA: Sarah Russell MUA
