There’s nothing better then seeing the face of a client when you show them their commisioned headpiece for the first time!

Stunning commision for a lovely mother of the groom. A slanted sinnamay base in shades of pale and dusky pink with intricate eyelash lace, sinamay twists. Feather flower and sparkling black swaroski crystals.

New Designs

N.Joy has been working on some new designs. Not yet available on her website. What do you think!

For the sophisticated Lady:
                       A  large black sinamay disc, decorated with a stunning, over sized, double headed silk rose, hand dyed in a black to white ombre effect. With curled ostrich spine and stripped feathers. Finished with a spray of ivory netting. And attached on a lightweight couture headband.

For the temptress:
                         A sinamay base covered in flocked velvet leopard print. With a large satin bow and decorative buckle finished with chocolate coloured netting. All on an easy to wear handmade headband. The purrfect cocktail hat.

For the style icon:
                        A royal blue velvet cocktail hat. With large silk and velvet rose sprinkled with grey and blue Swarovski crystals. Surrounded by large pink sinamay loops and navy and baby pink veiling. Attached on a lightweight headband.

For the demure lady:
                   A dusky pink and ivory teardrop fascinator, with sinamay roses and sinamay loops. And light pink veiling .All attached on a handmade headband.

For the fabulous:
                  An Elegant new 1920’s  cloche hat in navy blue felt. With a light blue band. Embellished with two large roses and surrounded by a spray of pearls.    

Which one are you?

Newbies

Heres a few new pieces from N.Joy.Millinery that are not on the site yet enjoy!

An oval saucer shaped hat in ivory sinamay . Embelished with two large dusky pink silk flowers, entwined around a curled ostrich spine, with diamond shaped stripped feathers, in shades of pink and cream! An enchanting piece perfect for the races or a summer wedding

 
A beautiful new bridal piece. Delicate ivory floral lace embroidered with flecks of silver and gold threads. Embelished with glass beads and imatation pearls. Attached on a golden/ivory satin ribbon, edged in a cluster of beads with combs for easy attachment. For an alternative to the traditional tiara.

Another lovely new bridal piece. White, floral corded lace embelished with tiny silver glass beads and sparkerling diamante, attached on a graduated sized chain with diamante pendant. It can be worn across the forehead or at headband height.

An ivory ripple sinamay base, with a pair of hand sculped, pale blue roses and sinnamay loops gathered on a large bow decorated with goose biot feathers and floral lace.

Dark chocolate feathers, embroidered with coffee colured lace with silver cord, embroidered with stunning gold and bronze glass beads. A glittering piece of headwear for that sophisticated lady.

The Royal Christening

Like all royalist N.Joy was excited to see what hats would be worn to Princess Charlotte’s christening.
And we weren’t disappointed. The beautiful Kate Middleton wowed the crowd in an elegant outfit by Alexander McQueen and a stunning hat by the talented Jane Taylor. N.Joy has been privileged to work with Jane Taylor and is a huge fan of her amazing designs. This is not the first time the Duchess of Cambridge has worn a Jane Taylor creation in fact she also wore one to Prince Georges Christening.

 

Both hats are in classic neutral tones and have similar slanted beret shapes. With soft silk organza flower detail.  Kate certainly knows what hat style suits her and milliner Jane Taylor has provided Kate with a stunning selecting over her time in the public eye.

Of Course Kate isn’t the only Jane Taylor fan here are a few more.

Jane Taylor if fast becoming The Royal milliner for the young Royals.
Kate Middleton’s striking sister Pippa is also a fan of the London based milliner and also wore a gorgeous Jane Taylor creation to Princess Charlotte’s Christning.

So keep an eye out for this fashion forward hat designer is taking the millinery world by storm! But back to the Christening the pictures are fabulous enjoy!

Hats off to the ladies of Ascot!

The once strict regulations of the ascot ladies day seems to have relaxed a little this year giving way to some outlandish fashion! Some funky fascinators some happening hats and some err interesting works of art!

Some ladies thought it was all about size! with large ornate headdresses with brightly dyed ostrich and pheasant feathers. (not sure how much of the races the lady on the left actually saw!) Others opted for quirky little numbers.

Some ladies attracted attention for all the wrong reason though hats off to the milliners who made those concoctions stay upright!

For me these ladies wore the best hats by far!  Pure class! Large hats in pastle colours work because their striking without being an eyesaw.  Red suits everyone teamed with white and black equals pure elegence.

And it wasn’t just the men who went all out for Ascot this year, I’m loving the peacock top hat it takes a real man to wear that many sequins!

And who better to finish with then her majesty who looked beautifully demur in her colour coded pieces.

Collaboration with Russell Robin Hair Studio.

       At a recent charity event Natalie-Joy (N.Joy) met the lovely owners of the Russell Robin hair studio.  Wearing one of her own creations N.Joy and Robin (one of the dynamic brothers who own and run the studio) got into a conversation about fashion hats and hair. N.Joy was invited to a collaboration shoot mixing Robin Neal’s creative hair colouring and styling with N.Joy’s distinctive headwear.

                N.Joy was thrilled to work with someone who had worked with celebrities like Amy Winehouse, Rodger Moore and Depeche Mode. As well as working with well know singers and actors. Both brothers have travelled widely with their work and exhibited their artistic hairstyling at such events like Malan fashion week and the Brit awards. To a budding young business women like N.Joy this was an opportunity not to be missed. The brothers originally from Essex trained and worked in Regents Street London but moved to the beautiful location of Cornwall to bring up their families though this has not but a dampener on their career.

       N.Joy has been lucky enough to do a lot of amateur modelling in her youth so she was delighted to not only have her hats used in this shoot but to be the model as well.

                A few days before the Shoot Robin took N.Joy’s dark auburn somewhat straggly locks with its grown out fringe  and split ends and transformed her to a radiant redhead with dramatic blunt fringe.

      On the day of the shoot, Robin put N.Joy’s hair up in a high French pleat styled updo and put her in front of the camera with a collection of hats and outfits the quirky shoot had a distinctly 60’s feel to it, directed and shot by Robin (who is also a talented photographer). The shoot was a brilliant success. The full shots have not been released yet but here’s a sneak preview. Keep watching for the final shots and Advertising campaign .

The wedding display at The Alverton

After the success of The Great Gatsby display, at the Alverton, N.Joy’s latest display is on the theme of weddings. The Alverton with its impressive great hall, friendly staff, beautiful views and delicious food plays host to many a wedding and is one of the top wedding venues in Cornwall. So it seemed apt to play tribute to this in N.Joy’s latest display.

 In today’s modern world a milliners biggest income is from weddings. N.Joy.Millinery makes lots of fascinators for wedding guest large stylish hats for mother of the brides and intricate bridal headwear in all colours shapes and styles. The Alverton display shows off a small range of N.Joy’s fascinator range.

The first shelf shows some ideas for the bride. A quirky black and pink top hat, for that steam punk bride. An ivory, delicate 1940’s style birdcage veil and a mash of contempary and vintage in a white veiled headpiece with dusky pink hues. Alongside stunning photography of the Alverton hotel and previous Alverton weddings.

The second shelf shows a range of fascinators in all shapes and sizes. A pink and black lace fascinator with bow detail.  A sinamay rose and loop fascinator with stripped feathers in The Alverton colours of gold and black. A simple yet elegant navy blue fascinator with stripped mallard feathers and a cluster of beads. A twee ivory and black polka dot fascinator with flower detail. And something a bit special, a black and pink swirl design embellished with silk rose ostrich feather and dustings of Swarovski crystals. All surrounding the latest advert for The Alverton’s February  wedding fair.

‘Brimming with a whole host of suppliers from amazing photography suppliers to delicious wedding cakes, Breath taking wedding dresses and so much more!

All set in the beautifully unique Alverton hotel and private gardens.’

The third shelf shows a range of pastel coloured fascinators. A grey/pink velvet fascinator with flower detail, A pale blue fascinator embellished with silver lace and hand beaded with glass beads and diamante.  A pink and white lace fascinator with pearl detail. And a fancy lilac and white swirl piece with flower and ostrich feather detail. All accompanied by leaflets of the different services The Alverton weddings offer.

The fourth and final shelf shows a stunning range of show stealing fascinators. An Ivory fascinator with Navy blue silk flower dusted in tiny diamante. A red and black lace fascinator with large satin bow detail and a diamante buckle. My most recent piece a vivid red fascinator with velvet orchids sinamay loops and netting sparkling with Swarovski crystals. A rich chocolate velvet piece with vintage pink brown and cream flower and tonal netting. And finally a dusky pink and silver fascinator with a spray of grey feathers and crystal detail.

The Alverton’s Great Gatsby New Years Eve Party 2014

On the last day of the year the Alverton held the most Glamorous New Years Eve party in Cornwall. The Greats Gatsby party was full of 1920’s flare with candelabras dripping with pearls, Gold bottles boasting sparkling ostrich feathers and every table glistening with scatter gems the stage was set for a night to remember.

The men were dressed in spats trilbies and braces and the women wore dresses layered in fringing  strings of beads and fabulous headwear. Some pieces were designed and made by N.Joy.Millinery herself. Her customers looked stunning in N.Joy’s one off headwear. Below are a few designs that were sold for the event.

                With Diamante Swarovski crystals and pearls N.Joy.Millinery’s customers danced the night away.

 N.Joy’s Gatsby pieces start at £45 all intricately hand embroidered these pieces are one off costume designs that use beautiful materials and designs inspired by the 1920’s that will make you the envy of any art deco party . N.Joy.Millinery has a large range of stock but she also custom makes pieces to suit your outfit.

One of the talking points of the Alverton’s party was the mouth watering buffet with a suckling pig, whole salmon cheese platter and chocolate fountain all displayed on framed mirrors surrounded byendless glasses of prosecco the party was an extravaganza that Gatsby himself would have been proud of.

I wonder what the Alverton will think of next year.

 

Baker Boy Commission-

One of my recurring customers asked me to make her an everyday  hat something to fit her personality, and something that would suit her style.

                Initially I get to know the client, what colours they wear,  what’s a typical outfit for them, What kind of decoration they like. Then I come up with initial sketches and show them to the customer . If they like the sketches I go ahead with the making process.
 
                                         

                The hat I designed was inspired by the 1960’s baker boy style. I wanted to use purples and creams with a floral print. I didn’t want the floral fabric to look too fussy so I decided to only make too panels in the floral fabric and then add a little floral feature on the side of the hat.

                Colours decided, I then had to work out a paper pattern for the hat. I looked at different vintage baker boy patterns and adjusted them to fit my hat. This hat was more like dress making then millinery. Luckily I’ve had plenty of practice in dress making! I then made a mock up hat so I could work out the exact sizing and how much fabric I needed.  For most hats I make in sinamay and felt,  I don’t make a mock up or pattern as the hat is sculpted on a block and is a hard hat as oppose to a soft hat witch this commission was.

                After sourcing the fabric I beguine on the final hat itself. It was definitely a tricky commission but I really enjoyed the challenge. The hat turned out fabulous and suited my customer perfectly.  I even worked in some decorative lining just to add to the cuteness of this piece.

                A commissioned hat, is made by N.Joy.Millinery to the specific criteria of a client a one off tailored to the individual customer. For A commission please email N.Joy.Millinery.

                The Alverton is  a beautiful historical building , Once a nunnery, it is now turned into a chic hotel. That blends old world decor with a contemporary twist.  As well as having a range of stunning bedrooms, a fabulous  restaurant and a cosmopolitan bar. The Alverton boasts the exquisite  Great Hall. This was the grand chapel in its time, it still has its original stain glass windows and arched ceiling. It now plays host  to a range of parties and a huge variety of weddings throughout the year. But for one evening only it is being transformed back in time to the roaring 20s in a Great Gatsby inspired new years eve party.

                With each guest dressed to impress in the flapper style N.Joy.Millinery was asked to do a display based around the theme of the Great Gatsby. As most of you knew Natalie-Joys Degree was in Costume Design, which is why many of N.Joy.Millinery’s pieces have a vintage feel to them. So Natalie was keen to take this opportunity  to showcase some of her more art deco pieces. She is also bringing out a range of headpieces just for the event available to buy or hire for the occasion.

                So with tickets booking fast the evening is set to be an extravaganza of the 1920’s Fashion and glamour. So come and join us for sidecars and martinis and a bit of Charleston dancing perhaps. With champagne and a banquet feast  the evening is set to be as beautiful as one of N.Joy.Millinery’s headwear headpieces.

                 Guests to the Alverton Gatsby evening will receive 10% off Natalie-Joys Gatsby headwear! so what are you waiting for. Pick from one of N.Joy.Millinery’s pre made  stock pieces or let Natalie-Joy custom make you a piece to match you outfit. A one off individual piece that will make you the belle of the ball!

For more information on The Alverton visit- http://thealverton.co.uk/