Save 20% On Your Bridal Headpiece With HT Headwear

We're rather fond of beautiful accessories here at Love My Dress.  Anything that can enhance an outfit to make you feel that little bit more fabulous is a good thing in our books.  We're also very fond of supporting small but brilliant businesses in the wedding industry – designers producing beautiful pieces that are lovingly hand-crafted, just like Helena Talbot of HT Headwear.

Images below Copyright Elizabeth Lois Photography

Helena comes on board as one of our new sponsors today and we couldn't be prouder.  That this up and coming elegant, stylish and feminine headpiece and accessories designer chooses Love My Dress to showcase and promote her designs is such a compliment, and we're delighted to put our name and 'highly recommended' stamp behind Helena and her brand.

Helena Talbot setup HT Headwear whilst on maternity leave with my first child in 2010.  'Since 2010', she says, 'I’m proud to say the brand has become synonymous with style, quality and personal service at an affordable price. It’s our 3rd birthday this July and we are launching a brand new website to celebrate!'

Images below Copyright Anton Phatianov photography

'After doing several millinery courses after Uni I made some cocktail hats for a local boutique in a village I’m from in the West Midlands.  Whilst at university, I’d tried my hand at fashion and interiors but really like the niggly little things that other people didn’t have the patience to do, hence ending up as a trained weaver!'

'As a child my nan used to show me how to make collages out of cutting flowers from bits of old fabric and saving the sweet wrappers from quality street tins at Christmas to make pictures, so I think my interest really stems from childhood and messing about with different creative bits and bobs.  I actually ended up in bridal accessories after I’d had trouble finding something suitable for my own wedding which was within my budget and didn’t compromise on style or quality.'

'I have a BA Hons degree in constructive textiles and several millinery courses under my belt.  I originally wanted to go into interior design and did my work experience in London split between Ramm, Son&Crocker and Anna French.  Now, I design and make all my own creations by hand from my studio in London.  We also source all materials from British suppliers.'

'My 2014 collection was heavily inspired from lazy days walking the dogs and kids up Richmond park in the Autumn.  Walking through the woods; collecting leaves, twigs and acorn hats, which stirred a thought in my head about clusters and collections.  My children are both pre-school,  so we often collect bits whilst walking the dogs to make pictures from!  I was also reading a book about women of the 1940’s at the time, which also steered me in a certain direction and of course I take inspiration from my brides and what they ask for.'

I was keen to know what inspired Helena when it comes to designing her pieces…

"I seek my inspiration from everywhere and anywhere!  Most of the time something just triggers an idea in my head, I don’t particularly go out looking for it, but I do take a lot of inspiration from nature. 

In terms of the kind of aesthetic I'm naturally drawn to, well, I think as i’ve got older it has changed a lot.  I used to love the 1920’s fun flirty style and actually got married myself in ‘Papillion’ by Jenny Packham a heavily beaded dress with beaded Emmy shoes and an ostrich feather headpiece.  But now I am more drawn to the 1930’s and the long clean lines of the dresses they wore back then and only a little flesh on show.  Perhaps as i’ve got older I just like covering up more, but I do think there is a very sexy undertone to the ‘less is more’ policy and love the elegance and grace that women of that era seemed to reflect.'

Helena has a beautiful collection of headpiece designs, but a huge portion of her work is committed to creating one-off pieces, or 'bespoke'.

''About 40% of my business is bespoke design at the moment.  I work with a variety of Brides from girls wanting simple chic headbands to large statement pieces. The cost of these designs is anything from £75 upwards dependant on what is required.  What are order times etc etc  I do ask for a 4 week leadtime as we get really busy in the summer, but I can turn it around in a week if the Bride has a clear vision of the road she wants to travel and I have the fabrics/materials to hand.  It’s the design process that takes the most time.'

Images below Copyright Elizabeth Lois Photography

Rather generously, Helena is offering our lovely readers a 20% discount on all online* orders placed between today and 1st August 2013*.  This is an exclusive discount available to Love My Dress readers only, and can be accessed by entering the following code at check-out: LMDweb01.  Prices start
from £25 for a set of 3 hairpins up to £250+ for a hand-blocked cocktail
hat piece, though most of Helena's most popular pieces sit around the £85 mark.

We hope that you love these designs and are keen to explore more and perhaps make yourself a little saving in treating your self to something beautiful and expertly hand-crafted. 

For further information, visit the the HT Headwear website, email [email protected] or telephone [email protected].  Helen will delighted to hear from  you.  You can also find HT Headwear on Facebook and Twitter.  Let us know if you place an order ladies, and what for!

Much love,

Annabel

 

* Offer excludes bespoke orders

 

HT Headwear are a sponsor of Love My Dress.