Miss Danica, our favourite blue haired burlesque b-b-Bombshell, was wed on the weekend in a beautiful Dior inspired gown of emerald green and rich sapphire blue.
She batted her bridal lashes under this bold bespoke Lil Jen Confection with elegant sculpted feathers, black silk bows and a breeze of vintage French silk veiling perched atop her classic ditaesque finger wave hair.
Meeting Mr Stephen Jones would have to be my most exciting millinery moment to date! This photo was taken after his Q&A with Oriole Cullen (fashion curator of the V&A) at the GOMA theatre. We were all a little awestruck to meet the man behind the fashion mastery of the last 30 years.
Stephen Jones has created amazing hat magic for Galliano, Dior, Comme des Garçons and Jean-Paul Gaultier to name a few. Even more exciting… he was a Blitz Kid riding the wave of the new romantics and he lived in a London squat with Boy George! woo hoo!
Empress Eugénie was a legendary French fashion aficionado, she bought her frocks at Worth and had her hats made at Reboux. Indeed! This Lil Jen Confection is a nod and a sweeping bow to the finery and glory of the last gasp of empire and aristocracy.
Eugénie was an all together splendiferous broad of the finest tastes and this perched dolly riding cap in brushed wool felt, fine of feather and sparkle of sequin would have slayed any suitors gazing upon her magnificent royal visage.
On Wednesday eve we attended the gala opening of the V&A’s “Hats an Anthology” by Stephen Jones. This is the most spectacular and comprehensive collection of hats ever exhibited in Australia and we are very lucky to be the second destination on it’s six year traveling schedule.
It was fantastic to see Australia’s milliners decked out in their finery and signature hats to welcome this great artist and millinery legend to our shores (Stephen Jones wore a magnificent bugle bead beret).
If you love hats and have an interest in the art of millinery this exhibition is a must see!
V&A’s Hats an Anthology by Stephen Jones (curated by Oriole Cullen) will be open until June 27th 2010 at Queensland Art Gallery.
so cool, so chic, so autumn!
This snappy Lil Jen Heart Confection appeared in the SMH today in the Essential Autumn racing carnival supplement. “Petunia Heart” is hand blocked in tangelo coloured felt featuring posies of bright red flowers, origami bonbons and dainty gingham ribbons fluttering in the crisp autumn breeze.
This jaunty cap evolved from a flat pattern that I drafted up to make use of this lovely fabric.
It’s a little “1940’s sea side holiday” in style and probably the most casual hat I have made to date.
Something to relax in on your next sea side escape. It is also an excuse to showcase my new favourite mannequin, Miss Gwendolyn!
I found this lovely in a bric-a-brac shop in New Zealand, she is from the 1950’s and it was her Mona Lisa gaze that captured me, that and her wonderful tangerine lipstick. Enjoy x
This is the latest batch of custom made Lil Jen hat stands. They are beautifully hand crafted to display your Lil Jen Confections, so perfectly sweet perched atop your dressing table or the mantle, painted with the palest blush of cherry blossom pink. I will list prices and styles soon, it’s just a little “FYI” for now in case you are super keen.
Esperanza, sister of Esmeralda, was a recent commission made for lovely Meg. This beauty danced the night away at the burlesque ball. A pretty raven set atop the blackberry bramble and violet petals with two delicate mauve butterflies.
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| As much as I love the grand, outre statements that millinery succinctly punctuates in a head turning outfit I also love the mystery, delight and craftsmanship in the hidden detail. Some of my favourite examples of this care and attention to discreet detail can be found in the pattern of a vibrant silk lining and the covered buttons of a sharp Ted Baker suit, killer French lingerie Fifi or Chantal, under a modest, prim dress or even the pleasure of a posh box of Violet cremes, untying the ribbon on a petite and perfectly square package, lifting the embossed and gilded lid to find a neat little card listing the assortment and then peeling the branded sticker from the stiff waxy paper to reveal a fanciful arrangement of foil wrapped treats. These are the things that quicken the pulse, the detail, the unexpected, the care and fuss to make the experience more enjoyable, only you need to know of these things but the knowing elevates the experience which brings me to my point. I love hat linings! This is the hidden, secret detail only the wearer will know. Imagine a neat grey bouclé pillbox flipped over to reveal a screaming chartreuse silk lining, the exact spacing of pleats in a smart stripy lining for a raffish boater or a satiny pink lining in a blush coloured bowler, these are the secret details known and loved by many Lil Jen hat wearing gals! |
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| Its Lil Jen to the rescue with this rare and handsome hat stretcher. It can expand your hat to an impressive 26″, phew! This is a sterling curio from years past, 100 or so years past, and often only arises in hat folklore they are indeed so prized. However, he didn’t always look so pretty. Thanks to the exceptional skills of a fine craftsman aka Dad, this ones come up a treat. I have resisted all vaudevillian urges in its renovation and allowed this precious item to retain its noble authenticity in dulled brass, japanned timber and robust iron hardware at the ready to resize your finest hats. |