Do you love hair accessories from period dramas like Downton Abbey, but feel lost in the sea of accessories today? The hunt for the right piece can feel endless, especially the search for designs that use quality genuine antique materials. This is why I create Blue Brocade hair adornments.

Whether for vintage brides, French Twists for a brunch with friends, or an accent for a winter hat, Blue Brocade accessories are made for women who look to the past with adoring eyes, and seek to wear a bit of history in their lives today.

Blue Brocade first began while I was living in Montreal, Canada, a 17th century French city rich in art and culture. I had a desire for feather accessories for my winter hats that were timeless and elegant rather than garish or tacky. I couldn't find what I hoped for and so, I began to make my own. Today I specialize in vintage bridal designs, hair vines, hand cut silk flowers and crowns, 1920s feather fascinators, and elegant hat brooches each rooted in historical adornment styles, using vintage pieces in new ways.

I am a lover of history, art and art making, French culture and all things old. Montreal, a city that dates back to the 1640s, was the perfect city to get lost in, exploring her historic neighborhoods, flea markets and antique shops, stumbling upon shops entirely devoted to 'les boutons'. I met the ever-charming Madame Bijoux who has made a life specializing in the history of beautiful antique costume jewelry. She opened my eyes to the histories of rhinestone brooches, and spurred my desire to bring these glamorous details into the present, to use them in my designs in order to add elegance to everyday style.

The drama and beauty of feather accessories, hair vines, silk flowers and pearls for hair date back centuries, and I am especially drawn to the feather accessories in the French Rococo period of the late 18th century, the Victorian and Edwardian feather and hair accessory styles of the early 20th century, and the 1920s. My designs are inspired by these periods, and by the intrigue surrounding each vintage button or brooch I collect--who once owned them, what lives did they once live? These patinas of past eras inspire each design I create.

Blue Brocade accessories are perfect for adding an authentic vintage style to weddings, glamorous soirees, rich red wines and elegant dinners for two, and I create my designs to be versatile, to be enjoyed in our every day--for side swept hair in afternoon cafes, casual summer nights, and accents on hand knit berets. My designs are created to add a classic touch to everyday styles and our most special moments.

Each design is completely handmade by me, bringing together these carefully selected remnants from the past. I use only feathers and silks in classic neutrals like blacks, whites, greys, champagnes, blush and mochas, accented with long forgotten buttons in silver, gold, or the warm sparkle of aged vintage rhinestones. Each design is one of a kind, harmonious and refined, bringing these forgotten elements from the past into the present, and drawing from their timeless elegance once more so they may continue to inspire us in our everyday.

Visit www.bluebrocade.com for the lookbook, and to sign up for the Blue Brocade Newsletter--full of hair tutorials, vintage inspiration, and sneak peeks at upcoming designs. It is a pleasure to create each piece and to connect with women around the world. Thank you for visiting my shop, I hope it brings you joy as well.

Press:
Vancouver Bride Blog
http://www.vancouver-bride.com/?id=80

Style me Pretty
http://www.stylemepretty.com/2013/01/23/templeton-california-wedding-from-sarah-kathleen-photography/


If you have any questions or are interested in custom designs and wholesale orders, please feel free to contact me anytime.

Enjoy your visit!