Dapper grooms

I saw this wedding feature on 100 Layer Cake and just had to share some pictures of the wonderful groom's outfit - how dandy is his whole look? Just love the colour combinations, stripes, (one of my favourite things!), and the pork-pie hat. The bride looks wonderful too but the groom steals the show....did I just say that - Oooops :-)

See the feature on 100 Layer cake
Photos courtesy of James Moes

Philip Treacy shoes for Valentino

It's no surprise that Philip Treacy has decided to expand his creative talents by designing shoes for Valentino. Dramatic hats and shoes go hand in hand and these whimsical beauties are to die for!


I came across this news on the blogs of one of my readers in Argentina! So thanks for introducing yourself Lelis - Have a look at her inspiring blog even if you can't understand the text...

And here's a few words from Philip himself -

"I am usually working on the head and then to move to the foot is a whole other dimension," he explained. "You can't have the same fragility, because models walk like racehorses and kick them together. And then something very delicate is in tatters—but actually, it looks quite good in tatters!"

Anyone find any gorgeous shoes for their wish-lists?
Read my other articles about shoes including a special Rangoli shoe commission!

Fascinator Hat

Recently I had the opportunity to design a headpiece for a mother of the bride. The starting point for this commission was the Louise Kennedy outfit that she had chosen to wear. The dress, seen above is a truly classic style with simple, elegant lines. The navy and cream colour combination is dramatic yet under-stated and the graphic floral design is very striking.

My client wanted a small headpiece that would complement her outfit. She is not someone who likes wearing large hats or fussy headpieces so I suggested the simple form of a small fascinator hat. Once we had tried on an example of this type of hair accessory, I was able to discuss lots of different possibilities for embellishing the form.

French navy veil netting was a perfect match for the outfit. Cream pearls were a lovely way of introducing the cream colour. I designed a pearl and rhinestone flower detail to add a little drama to the piece. I also worked some tiny pearls into the netting.

I love designing custom pieces like this and it is also an enjoyable experience for the client to be involved in the design process!

Vintage Vogue

Vintage is very much back in fashion and influences can be seen in many bridal collections this season. What I like most about this fashion era is the structured tailoring. Clothes were designed to show off all of our lovely curves! You almost get the feeling that the garments give you better posture.

Over the coming weeks I will be sharing some of the bridal trends for 2009 with you. I will also post some personal favourites from this season. I get lots of inspiration from my clients who share scrapbooks filled with style ideas and fabric swatches.

These great images are from www.myvintagevogue.com

Facinator hats and alternative headpieces

I have found that many clients including mother of the bride and bridal guests are looking for an alternative to a large hat or feathers. Many want to dress up their hair in an elegant and more understated way.

With this in mind, I have been designing a range of facinator hats and sculptural hairpins and combs that can be customised to match any outfit. These pieces are very versatile and can be worn in a number of different hairstyles. Some are attached to fine alice bands so that they sit securely and comfortably on the head.

Why not have a piece designed specially for you and enjoy being involved in the design process!

Photos by Brendan Lyon