Emerging Milliners at London Fashion Week AW13 - "Headonism"

London Fashion Week is set to kick of this Friday (15th Feb) and for the 4th year will showcase the mad talent of 5 of Britain's greatest emerging milliners in an exhibition presented under a British Fashion Council initiative... and they have a few rising stars to pick from so choices would have been tough!

Stephen Jones is curating the exhibition (it's in good hands folks!), and it will feature the work of Piers Atkinson *swoon*, William Chambers *gasp*, Emma Yeo *faint*, Aurora Ozma *whimper*, and Moody & Farrell *passes out*... under the guise of "Headonism - AW 13"and will show from 15th - 19th February at Somerset House.

Aurora Ozma, Emma Yeo, and Moody & Farrell are new to the collective this year, and I have to say really worthy additions. I have been particularly blown away by the work of Emma Yeo and Moody & Farrell, as they have produced some stunning and wearable creations that I would really like to get my hands (head?) upon (under?)! I'm not quite as familiar with the work of Aurora, but I'm sure it's equally fabulous. Piers Atkinson is of course a previous ISAH favourite, so needs no introduction around these parts!

I really feel that millinery is somewhat under-represented in the various fashion weeks in Australia, which is a shame given it's heritage through the Melbourne cup. Wouldn't it be amazing to see a similar initiative here, which Australian rising stars do you think should be put in the spotlight?

See below for some of my favourite examples of the works of the 5 milliners featured, no idea if these will be in the exhibition or not, but they are ones that caught a bit of my fancy:

What a wonderful video from Piers Atkinson, brings out dreams of a bygone era

William Chambers  Photo from here 

Emma Yeo 

Emma Yeo LOVE this!

Aurora Ozma 

Moody & Farrell - Straw Bear

Moody & Farrell - Cecil Bee 

Moody & Farrell - The Horn Dance

Millinery Couture at Dior with Stephen Jones

It's no secret that I have a little fondness for Jones's; Grace and Stephen, two of an eccentric, creative, fabulous kind.

Having just taken a peak at the Dior Couture A/W Collection, the first without Galliano as its swashbuckling ringleader, I'm slightly infatuated with the candy disco-cum-fairytale shapes of SJ's headwear.  Bold and feminine, cute and delicious, making my mouth fizz like a pink Refresher. I quite want to take a bite out of those sweet looking candies. Gobstopper anyone?

 

Stop Press: Stephen Jones at Melbourne Cup!!!

Yes folks it's true, the millinery legend is gracing these fair shores for the nags at Melbourne Cup, just thought I needed to let you know. Let it out like. It's p.r.e.t.t.y exciting. Don't you think?!
Far more exciting than their previous so called celebrity guests - Carlson Cresley WTF???

As a little Brucie Bonus, you can even go see him talk at the NGV next Tuesday night... if you are a Victorian Racing Club member that is. http://www.melbournecup.com/melbourne-cup-carnival/event-planning-calendar-detail.asp?calendar_group_start_date=2010/10/01&vrc_event_id=264

I'm not, but through an error bad planning I can't make it anyway, I'm going to see Pat Benatar, LOVE IS A BATTLEFIELD my friends. Yep, there's an excuse if ever I heard one, it doesn't get much better than that. Pat in a Hat.

So by coincidence I was walking through Myer yesterday checking out the racewear, and I'm not just saying this but I came across Stephen Jones's offerings and they totally were the best.... but just a little out of my price range. This sexy little top hat and pearls was my favourite. 

Stephen Jones at Myer

 I will keep a look out for other Stephen Jones in Oz events and of course keep you posted.

Just in case you're a bit jealous about Pat, here she is with possibly the best song ever written:

Independent Stephen Jones

A great little article about Stephen Jones in The Independent (the one UK paper which doesn't instill fear in the middle classes!), covering his upcoming retrospective which will be something to get super over the top excited about!

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/features/from-the-top-master-milliner-stephen-jones-and-his-remarkable-lifersquos-work-2080202.html

Stephen Jones wearing cardboard well

Together with a video of a song which crossed my ipod today and I think totally fitting... pun utterly intended!

Youtube - is this the real video for the song? Hmmm, but I do like it - can't go wrong with a bit of 80's high waisted swimsuit action!

A book about a lot of hats

Hats An Anthology by Stephen Jones

In a minor surge of excitement I ordered "Hats - An Anthology" today by the O so fabulous, world famous milliner, Stephen Jones. 
It accompanied the exhibition of the same name last year at London's showroom of historic cool, the Victoria & Albert Museum. Gawd dangit I wish I could have seen it... and just to further the blow I also found out the exhibition toured Australia earlier this year at Queensland Art Gallery... Ouch - nothing worse than hearing about these things after the event... oh well, I will make do with second best and read the book. I'm looking forward to a juicy feast of hat facts, sumptuous pictures and gorgeous designs, the pictures I have seen so far are totally devine. I will post a review when said hat book drops through the mail.

Yours excited x

P.S. copies are available from the V&A themselves (see link above), Amazon (on offer!) and as always, ebay!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hats-Anthology-Stephen-Jones/dp/1851775579

The Deluxe Edition

And if you want to splash out, there's always the extravagant super special limited edition in luxurious silk and with a signed illustration by Stephen Jones himself. I would love this, but alas, must.save.funds. 

http://www.vandashop.com/product.php?xProd=3445&navlock=1