Ivalde meets Chapeau Tres Mignon
by Arabeth Laval
Posted on January 13, 2008
Filed Under Outfits, Vintage
Megg Demina creates some wonderful things, and her latest has had plenty of people reaching for their purses, and indeed bloggers tapping at their keyboards. This delightful 1920s style headpiece was a nightmare to find hair for – well, everything in my inventory had too much bouff at the front, so a quick trip to Calla was in order – but once you have the perfect ‘do, you’ll be delighted with the results.
Cameos mounted in gold and fixed with dark ribbons sit high on either side of the head, connected with double strands of rounded beads. Wide chains fall from scrolled accents, finished with a single sphere. The tied bows have flexed lengths that hang to the side of the face, moving easily as you do.
This happens to go very well with a number of dresses from Ivalde, my favourite of which is ‘Henny’, shown here in black and gold. The sleeveless style has a high neck and keyhole opening to the front, featuring a mass of intricate beadwork that creates the collar and feeds into the material of the dress to make up a large portion of the design.
The skirt is open-fronted with system underlayer, which works for an interesting effect: be warned that the pretty beadwork will stretch when you flex your legs a little too much, but even with the imposed design limitations, I still found this worked rather well. Lozenges of colour fan from the belt and downward in an unusual pattern that I don’t believe you will find anywhere else. The pencil skirt is slightly scalloped and skims the knee, while the prim layer encircles the legs in a series of rigid pleats. It has a very slight transparency to it and moves well.
I really love this dress, but did note that the side seams were ever so slightly out under the arms: you really won’t notice unless you’re being as pernickety as I am when I’m in review mode (you ought to know by now!). The dress is unusual and despite it being a period piece, I certainly wouldn’t hesitate to wear it out. It’s available in four colours, including the gold/black, so if you want one of your very own, then you need to visit Ivalde sharpish, and stop by at Chapeau Tres Mignon shortly after in order to claim your matching headpiece. If you don’t usually stock shorter dos, I can definitely recommend Calla as your final destination.
Someone remind me, what’s the French for ‘Squee’..?
1920s Antique Headress, $300L – Chapeau Tres Mignon
Henny (Gold), $350L - Ivalde
Lichen Hair (Dark Mahogany), $200L per colour pack - Calla
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