Naming - Miss E's Wedding Headpiece

As much as I love creating new things, I also love naming these little wonders.

Naming something after someone is...such an honour, and so romantic. A few mansions here built by the local tycoons and millionaires (decades ago when millionaires were synonyms of billionaires, or even gazillionaires), were either named after their wives or mothers. So, afterall, people didn't really lose their sons once their big boys got married.

The headpiece I created for my own wedding was very much inspired by Grace Kelly's wedding lace cap. But to name it "Grace Kelly inspired Juliet cap style headband" was a little too descriptive in nature, but too necessary when I first started this business on Etsy.

I just needed to make sure I was hitting the right keywords otherwise who on earth knew who and what on earth "House of Sugar Darlings" was.

Even though I am still pretty unknown out there, I do think it's time to name the headpiece after a bride-to-be purchased it.

I was a little surprised, but mainly touched, that a beautiful lady purchased it right away (without giving me a "hard time"), showing her confidence in me. I had discussed with many people on many occasions how I should price this item. But it looked like we didn't really get an answer. And many times, I doubted myself. 

And more surprisingly, this beautiful lady has a name that starts with an "E" as well. Isn't it obvious enough now, that this headpiece should have a name that starts with an "E" too? To aptly name it, and to thank this customer for her support, trust and confidence in me, the headpiece finally has a name.

Thank you, thank you so much, Evelyn.

You have been an angel. 

 

My Wedding - The Grace Kelly Inspired Juliet Cap Headband

I think I can never have enough of vintage inspired items. I forgot how this "Juliet cap" keyword popped up and when I Googled it, the picture of the forever Grace Kelly, in her wedding dress, appeared again in the search results.

It was only then I knew the headpiece she had was called a "Juliet cap." And if you are also meeting this name the first time, Juliet is quite obviously referring to the Juliet in Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet, a hair accessory popular in the Renaissance days. It was described by  Every Woman's Encyclopaedia (London, 1910) as "somewhat expensive", because of the use of laces, pearls and other jewels. 

I lack the knowledge and knowhow to do a cap and therefore I just created something that looked like a Juliet cap, on a headband, for my wedding. This headpiece is a little heavier than usual and somehow I think resting on a headband actually gives people more security to wear instead of wondering frequently "when it will fall from my head."

And as the Every Woman's Encyclopaedia described, I also used a lot of pearls, Czech crystals and laces to create this accessory. Many tear-shaped crystals were used, to signify the "joyful tears" a bride is expected to shed. In case you are also wondering if I had shed some, I am not afraid to admit that I bawled...many times. :~) Ah, those happy tears... Also, two little blue crystals were sewn, for the traditional notion of "something blue".

I love knowing that there are crystals here and there in my house which I bought a decade ago and finally proved themselves "useful", like the black floral crystal ornament was actually a button I found in a haberdashery shop!

On the day of my wedding, I discussed with my hair stylist and we decided that this would not be used with my wedding dress since my wedding veil was already "something quite extraordinary". I for sure did not want the veil to steal the spotlight of my Juliet cap, nor vice versa. We saved this when I slipped into a platinum gold gown, now looking back, that dress was actually quite Renaissance inspired too.

This piece is definitely something of a luxury. I have, however, wanted it also to be very affordable.

I hope so much you are going to love it! :-)

Grace Kelly inspired Juliet cap is now available on Etsy

Inspiration

Above: HRH Crown Princess Mary of Denmark at the christening of Princess Isabella

Below: HeadGirl Mary (Available now at Bonanza) 

I was never someone who loved fashion. 

I only bought my first fashion magazine ELLE in the summer of 1994, the year I went to university, because I was getting something from a supermarket and the magazine happened to be on a rack near the cashier. I just took it down and paid thinking that it would make me look stylish.

I stopped reading for many years. Then after graduation, I became a journalist and I was assigned to do court stories. 

It was ELLE again, when the black-and-white, life-and-death situations at court darkened my perspective on life and almost drowned me. They were hiring beauty editor, so I wrote a letter. However, a twist came and I ended up working for a buying office that manufactured quality hotel robes for casinos and five stars hotels around the world. I haughtily but secretly considered myself a "fashion person". (Oh did I mention that we did sleepwear for name brand clients too?)

That was when I began reading extensively fashion magazines from around the world.

Life took on another unexpected path and this time I landed myself a temp secretary job at a real local fashion magazine. 

I met a lot of people there, a lot more colourful and fashionable people than the newspaper or the clothing buying office.

However, I never met anyone that truly inspired me. I always thought, if they could not inspire me in any ways, pleeeeeease, wear something nice and enlighten me....fashionably! 

I was dying for inspiration until I finally "met" HRH Crown Princess of Denmark, née Mary Elizabeth Donaldson, on HELLO! Magazines. How can people have words that are suitable to describe her? Her style is impeccable. She reminds us of the bygone grace and elegance. She is herself, and she is style.

I am in love with everything she wears, every style she manages to carry. 

And thus, the creation of HeadGirl Mary.

Summer is

Summer is also when flowers look at their most stunning 
Featuring La Jardin de Victoria - available in assortments of colours (available soon)

Yeah, I know I know. My summer is ending. Yes, "MY" summer. Summer is when I do not need to shout and ask if homework's done, or if revision's completed. Summer is when I do not have to deliver lunch and  drive from day to night like a chauffeur.

Are your darlings ready to go back to school? Mines are probably still thinking they have some two more months instead of two more weeks.

To make myself feel better, at least I will not sweat that much once the cool breeze sets in.

Dream

From left to right: Blushing Rosemary, Catherine, Denise and Marie from the Blossoming Spring Collection (Selected items available now) 

I woke up today from a dream, at the break of dawn, suddenly realising my girls are so grown already.

I miss terribly the time when I could just pick them up single-handedly. 

I was those annoying ones who would like to "disturb" them when they were asleep: whispering in their ears how much I loved them, kissing them until they brushed me aside in their deep sleep, or simply scooping them up from their crib (when they were still tiny) and let them sleep sweetly and soundly in my arms until they blinked open their little eyes.

Those were the days...

Welcome to Sugar Darlings

Rosemary in Blue - Headband in blue and white checkers ribbon
with paper rosettes and polyester ribbons (Available soon)

To my dearly beloved customers,

It is my honour to have you here as a shopping customer, or as someone who just loves looking at some shopping sites.

Whether you are wanting something for that special darling, or that special darling turns out to be you yourself, I cherish your visit and you are just most welcomed.

I wish you nothing but the best.

Be happy always,

Sugar Darlings

XOXO