I knew you wouldn't be able to resist a peak at this one...
Eye-poppingly GORGEOUS aren't they? Each piece has been inspired by the beauty and grace of bygone eras. The designer, one exceptionally talented Yulia Kunze, blends these antique accents in her one-of-a-kind modern designs (all made in London).
Yulia is a regular reader of Love My Dress, and contacted me to see if her designs could be featured. I nearly fell off my chair as I browsed through the stunning images she sent me...
All Images Copyright (C) 2009, Yulia Kunze
Top Left, Antique Art Deco Style Bridal Headband, £102
Top Right, Antique Rhinestone & Bow Head wrap
Bottom Left, Art Deco Style Pearl Floral Headband, £149
Bottom Right, Antique 1920s Headpiece
Yulia developed a passion for creating this exquisite hair jewellery, whilst working at Sotheby's Art Auction House of London.....
"I spent several years working in Sotheby's Russian department, during which time I also studied history of art at Christie's Institute. That was a really interesting time for me and this is where I discovered my love of everything vintage and where my fascination with hair jewellery started..."
Yulia's designs began with her favoured materials: salvaged antique embellishments and vintage jewellery. Materials are sourced worldwide and come from many different time periods to create beautiful one of a kind pieces. They include Rhinestone appliques of 1920s flapper dress, Victorian jet beads, vintage millinery flowers, aged French lace, tulle.
Below, Antique Art Deco Style Bridal Headband, £102
Each piece that Yulia creates is a complete one-off. I'd like to ask you to stop and think about that for just a second, because it means that if you purchase a design from Yulia, you are buying a totally unique little work of art, that no one else in the whole entire world will own a copy of. How amazing is that?
"Each of my headpieces is handmade and has a little story behind it. They would be great for the vintage loving bride who is looking to wear something unique and unusual on her special day".
I am in total love with the headband below ~ an antique applique, set as a crown adornment (a rare find in itself). The crown is adorned with gorgeous vintage rhinestones and the headband is covered with 1920's French vintage velvet ribbon...
Gold Antique Applique Headband Jewelled Crown, £75
So beautiful isn't it? It would look stunning on any Bride, or indeed any one who enjoys wearing beautiful antique accessories.
Yulia told me that in working at Sotheby's, she discovered her penchant for anything from the 1900s through the 1930s ~ especially when it comes to fashion...
"I'm mostly inspired by the Art Deco movement, 20s flapper style, Ballets Russes and old silent movies. I was fortunate enough to work at one of world's leading auction houses and to be surrounded by beautiful, inspirational artefacts everyday. This inspired me to start creating my own designs in the style of the 1920s, but more accessible, modern and wearable".
Below Top, Art Deco Style Pearl Floral Bridal Headband, £149
Below Bottom, Flapper 1920's headpiece, £95
Some very beautiful original antique 1920's Art Deco hair combs...
The item below is a Victorian Black Jet Headpiece - so gorgeous! I love Jet (and being a massive fan of Whitby, I often spend time staring into the Jet jewellery shops that line the pretty cobble stone streets there) and so this piece also grabbed my attention. It has been made entirely by hand from antique and new materials. It features a beautiful example of rare antique Victorian Jet beading from the 1800s and has been sewn on to luxurious Italian fur felt, lined with lace and carefully finished at the back with a black Grosgrain ribbon for a comfortable fit. This unique headpiece (the mere description of which is making me feel weak!) could be worn down on the forehead for an incredibly chic 1920s flapper look, and it costs only £82...
Butterflies, flutter by; this romantic design is full of delicate hidden treasures; covered with layers of white tulle, it features beautiful handmade antique replica double butterflies and satin flowers adorned with faux pearls. This piece would add romantic charm to your wedding gown and there is a little blue Swarovski crystal for luck hidden inside the flower! One of a kind, for £60...
Another fine example of an antique 1920's headpiece...
Yulia's price range is £50-150 (wow, that's incredible value, for unique hand-crafted pieces) and you can purchase her products directly from her website. And the website is a joy to browse through, it is packed full of designs - many more than are illustrated here, and Yulia has placed a careful description next to each individual item.
Yulia told me that she works hard to regularly update the collection and that most weeks there is something new added.
I predict very firmly that this talented designer will be making a very big impression in the antique and vintage accessories market in 2010 and beyond. I suspect it shan't be long before one of the glossy mags picks her up for a feature, but remember you heard it here first.
Yulia, thank you so much for contacting me. I wish you huge amounts of success - you deserve it.
Much love,
Annabel xXx
♥
