Mad-Hatter
So, as you know from my profile, I am a die-hard hat and headpiece lover. A love which began about four years ago when I had first enviously viewed Isabella Blow’s hat collection in the Irish Museum of Modern Art. Philip Treacy, an Irish milliner and one of the greatest contemporary designers of his time, had designed the infamous collection. Headpieces are definitely set for their moment this season.
They were a dominant force on the Spring/Summer 2010 catwalks and with the new release of Burton’s Alice in Wonderland the Mad Hatter in me is ‘kid-in-a-sweet-shop’ excited. There were flame haired floss-like hairpieces complete with gigantic plumage the colour of orange peel at Vivienne Westwood, monochrome multifaceted bow hats at Temperley and sleek onyx show-jumper top hats complimented with delicate black netting in Dior’s couture collection. The ‘right-now’ accessory is most certainly the headpiece. Luckily this stylish accessory has gradually started to populate nearly every high-street clothes store out there in some form or another. I know so many people who are not comfortable with a full hat covering their head so headpieces are ideal. The great thing about this accessory is that it is constantly being rejuvenated, reinterpreted and completely reinvented, almost endless variations exist out there. Being stuck for choices just isn’t an option this season.
The celebrities as usual are already ahead of the game. From snapshots of Lady Gaga’s soon to be released music video for her single, telephone, it can be discerned that Gaga will be rocking an electric bubblegum blue telephone headpiece. It looks amazing. The piece consists of full telephones fixed with dials and cord attachments on three-dimensional geometric planes. As we all know, this Lady does not shy away from subverting risqué designs into the mainstream mentality. Other infamous pieces of headgear designed by the Haus of Gaga for the Lady in question include her gigantic bows of coiffed and billowed hair, button-disc hats or how about the almost ‘zombie bride’ en masse of silvery white fake hair and lace at this years Brit awards. That same night Natasha Khan aka Bat for Lashes wore a sparkling slouchy beret finished with a black structured bow.
How about becoming a bit more risqué in your choices? Now I’m not talking Gaga daring, I mean that Lady is in a realm of her own. Most things she braves many of us would only wear for a dare or perhaps to a fancy dress party. If you are really unsure of what suits you start off with a small headpiece, something slightly low key. Sparkling diamante pieces for your hair or a band of ribbon with a faux rose attached are great options. The best haunts to find your perfect piece are Miss Selfridge, Urban Outfitters and of course good old reliable Topshop. Or if you fancy yourself as a bit of a designing artiste, why not craft a few for yourself? It’s easy peasy, one ribbon of your choice from Hickeys? Check, and a flower from Pennys? Check. In complementing colours (or not) put them together and you’ve got yourself one pretty little headpiece. Mix and match, experiment with feathers and old broaches etc. I do this all of the time, it looks nice and it’s relatively inexpensive. Right Ladies, happy head piecing.
Aisling Kennedy
*Picture from www.style.com
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