Swirl Headpiece
Swirl Headpiece
Description
A romantic look that is substantial for big occasions without overpowering. It works equally well with sharp tailoring as with softer styles.
Please note, this piece is made to order so please allow 3 weeks until postage. If you need your headpiece sooner, please contact us prior to ordering and we will make every effort to meet your timeframe where possible. Due to the handmade nature of the piece, there may be small variations.
The wire lace is sewn securely to a hairband. It is completely hand made using a bobbin lace technique, with the ends finished in folds of petersham ribbon.
This headpiece can be made in gilt-covered, silver-plated or rose gold coloured metallic copper wire. It can be made using matte thread-wrapped copper wire in a colour by request. Small pearl or crystal beads can be added within the piece. Please contact us to discuss all bespoke options prior to ordering, as extra time for sourcing and making may be required and an additional fee may apply.
The hairband is handmade from millinery wire, which can be more comfortable to wear for long periods than traditional springy hairbands. A comb adds stability. The hairband is wrapped in cotton satin ribbon. If you would like a different shade of hairband ribbon to the options above, please contact us before ordering. Please note: we may not be able to source a custom ribbon shade in cotton satin, but will make every effort to tone with your hair or outfit.
Care
To maintain the beauty and integrity of your purchase, we recommend treating it with care. Keeping your headpiece in its original box and padding it with the tissue paper provided will keep it from going out of shape in storage. Do not wash. Gently wipe with a damp cloth, only if necessary.
If the wire lace has become squashed, carefully run your fingers down the lace lengthwise to even it out. Then gently ease it out width wise to the original shape. If you are in any doubt, contact us and, within reason, we will endeavour to restore it to its original state (unfortunately we cannot cover postage costs in this instance).
Your hairband is made from firm millinery wire for comfort over long periods of wear, so will not spring back into shape like a traditional hairband. Before putting on, carefully draw the ends of the hairband together so it will feel tighter. When putting on, do not stretch it out but slide the ends behind your ears before easing the hairband into place. It should sit in the same place on your head as a regular hairband.
Combs are normally placed with the teeth facing forward towards the face rather than pushing back into the hair. This keeps the headpiece in place and effectively stops the headpiece from falling forward if you bow your head.
Design
Each headpiece and hairband is imagined, designed and carefully handmade in Ireland. These original, sculptural headpieces are created using traditional lacemaking and millinery techniques to bring to life a sophisticated, contemporary piece of wearable art.
There are many steps and much thought in formulating and realising each design. We believe in slow, seasonless fashion and don't believe our pieces date, rather the selection evolves. New designs begin with a period of research, to crystallise a mood or theme for inspiration and depth.
A new design will be sketched, refined, and a mock-up created to finalise dimensions. The wire fabric pattern is then plotted on paper for the intended shape, and each piece of lace for each headpiece is individually hand woven. The ends of the many wires that go into a single piece of lace are carefully finished, sometimes individually or in pairs which can be a long process. Some headpieces are wired to supports which take time to work out for balance and the most attractive height and placement. Others are hand sewn to the hairband, with care taken to disguise the stitching so it is the least visible it can be, to give the effect that the piece is weightlessly adorning the wearer. Because of the time heavy nature of the working out phase, fully bespoke designs tend to be more expensive to produce.
We take the extra step to make millinery wire hairbands to reduce the pressure on the head that traditional hairbands can cause.
Leonora has developed and refined her unique techniques and catalogue of designs over many years. Her first wire lace order was placed in 2011 for a bespoke bridal veil, dreamed up in response to a request for something completely different, in gold metal, and complementary to the art deco embellishment of her customer's exquisite wedding dress.