2018 HATalk Competition Entry
Odette
Odette – United Kingdom
Grace
Category: Traditional
Description
Central to the headpiece is an exciting, sophisticated and highly feminine floral decorative design which is the result of the fusion of individual floral tapework-embroidered motifs.
Individual, flat motifs are combined to form a much larger design which is three-dimensional and which conveys a sense of movement. Elongated petals seem to roll in and out playfully, gently caressing the face of the wearer. The overall effect is captivating.
This headpiece is intended to be a little couture piece for an evening out, possibly an evening to the opera…
Materials
- sheer fabric with tapework embroidery
- silk organza
- sinamay
- Bondaweb
- cotton covered wire
Techniques
- Tapework embroidered floral motifs are carefully cut out from the sheer fabric. The motifs are then bonded onto silk organza using Bondaweb. Each motif is meticulously wired on the back at regular intervals, permitting manipulation and shaping of the motif thereafter. Components of each floral motif (which are originally flat/2D) are bent, stretched and curved thus creating an undulating, 3D structure. Several motifs are then artistically and organically layered over one another to create an overall design which alluringly curves round the face. The finished decorative design is then attached to a sinamay base/band.
- For the base structure, sinamay is blocked over a band. Buckram is also used as an under-layer underneath the sinamay to add strength to the support structure.