Tag: fingerwave

‘Fingerwave’ headpiece design

I wanted to share with you the story behind creating a very special design that I have been working to develop behind the scenes for well over a year now. It is a headpiece inspired by the Iconic ‘Fingerwave’ hairstyle, I love the 1920 and 30s era and this particular hairstyle is one of my all time favorites.

My sister Narelle Ayres is a very talented hairdresser based in Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast, she has created this hairstyle on me a few times, so naturally when I came up with the idea of creating a headpiece inspired by this hairstyle she was my go to person to make sure I was getting the shape and curves right. I created a mold of what I wanted the headpiece block to look like out of Esparterie and Plaster, it was a messy process but I managed to get it together and sent if off to my very talented Hat Block maker – Darryll at Hat Blocks Australia so he could then work on making my design into a wooden hat block that I could use to create my design into a real headpiece.

After a few months the exciting day arrived of unwrapping my hat block from Hat Blocks Australia and I was delighted with the outcome.  I worked quickly to make my first test sample in a wool felt so I could see the results, I’m not going to lie, it is a difficult design to block/shape but with hard work you get great results and I was over the moon with the outcome.

I have since made it in both felt and parasisal straw and have become more confident with the outcome and will be excited to release some ready to wear designs using it in my Spring collection for 2018, custom orders are also welcomed.

I then decided to use the ‘Fingerwave’ headpiece as a base for my Millinery Award Entry for the Millinery Association of Australia (MAA) this year as a way to launch the design officially and I was very happy with the results of the finished headpiece. I have some photos below showing the complete process in creating this design from conception to complete headpiece.

Brenda 🙂

Inspiration behind the design – the Iconic Fingerwave hairstyle
My first rough sketch of the ‘fingerwave’ headpiece design I wanted to acheive
Starting to develop the mould for my hat block maker to copy the shape to make me a hat block in my design
My mould (in white) next to my beautiful new hat block of my ‘fingerwave’ design made by the very talented Darryll at Hat Blocks Australia
Close up of my beautiful wooden hat block of the ‘Fingerwave’ design made for me by Darryll at Hat Blocks Australia

 

First test sample made of the design in a magenta wool felt
Couldn’t resist wearing the test sample out as soon as it was finished. It feels so good to wear as it just molds to the head shape beautifully.

In the studio, blocking the fingerwave shape with a black wool felt
blocking the design in Parasisal straw
The Black wool felt Fingerwave headpiece complete
Black fingerwave headpiece in wool felt complete
Working on the Millinery Competition entry for the Millinery Association of Australia
In the studio working on the Millinery Competition entry for the Millinery Association of Australia (MAA)
Completed ‘Spring Inspired’ Fingerwave headpiece design for the Millinery Association of Australia Millinery Award Competition. Made in Lilac Parasisal straw with fingerwave headpiece base and floating bow ontop with Crinolin to soften and EVA handmade flowers as feature.