Fascinating Fascinators: Bride's Head Revisited
Caroline Wolfe Papocchia Monday, May 9, 2011 at 9:01AM The royal wedding of Catherine Middleton to Prince William delivered endless opportunities for scrutiny and discussion, but the bridal attire stole the show. Middleton's dress was a coup for designer Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen, and her tiara and veil got nearly as much attention. Middleton's penchant for magnificent millinery inspired a fervor for fascinators, and few female guests dared attend the ceremony without a noteworthy topper.
(Princess Catherine on her wedding day. Photo: Flickr)While Princess Catherine's c. 1936 Cartier "Halo" tiara will certainly inspire a million copycats, veils and other bridal hair accessories were enjoying a resurgence in popularity even before the wedding, after a period of being out of vogue. The rise of craft and customization pushed this trend further, aided by talented designers who saw an opening in the marketplace.
(Emily Martin and Alexandra Augustine of Bride's Head Revisited.)
We caught up with Emily Martin and Alexandra Augustine of Bride's Head Revisited at the recent NY Magazine Weddings Expo. Martin and Augustine are vanguards of the modern custom bridal trousseau. Starting in 2002, the ladies joined forces after working together at the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As with many small businesses, theirs started with requests from friends. Now, Bride's Head Revisited is renowned for their unique combination of historical and modern design, and the personalization of every piece.
Running our fingers over Bride's Head's glittering display at the Expo, we felt as if we had discovered a box of delicate heirlooms, so fine and beautiful was the craftsmanship. On offer? Combs, barrettes, headbands, pins, French veils, feather fascinators, and more. Some pieces, like the silk and organza roses, were simply sweet, while others, like the diamond tiaras, were dead serious.
(Organza rose. Photo: Bride's Head Revisited)
(Jeweled barrette. Photo: Bride's Head Revisited)
We asked: any consistently popular item?
Oh, the jeweled pieces, they told us. Brides love to sparkle.
Interested in planning weddings and advising on bridal attire? The Sheffield Wedding & Event Planning course teaches everything you need to know to orchestrate a memorable event, from creating a guest list, to hiring vendors, to creating a beautiful wedding design.
Reader Comments (14)
The royal wedding was definitely a good place to scope out all the various fascinators. There were some amazing designs, but they cost so much! Sigh
Nice post and what a great name..Bride's Head Revisited for a business involved in bridal accessories-smart thinking and a memorable name
Veils and hair pieces seem to be the first thing people notice. These are all so beautiful, but are they affordable for the average bride?
hmmm, how come none of those pieces use diamonds?
The Royal Wedding was a very glamor party but we can find unique design there..
Greetings from Bali Wedding Organizer. Very good article.
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Lady Middleton looked stunning on the day. I had been doing a little job at a womens wellbeing centre and it was quite a busy day for them, I think the actual dress was getting talked about more than the actual wedding itself. A wonderful day for our Country.
"We asked: any consistently popular item?"
Of course! The bride's dresses have been with us for a long time now... generally speaking :)