Pearls & Swine

Royal Ascot’s Fascinator Ban vs Pearls & Swine’s Fascinators

I was contacted the other day and asked to give my opinion on Royal Ascot’s fascinator ban and these were my thoughts on the subject:

Pearls & Swine considers the fascinator debate to be great as it means people are talking and thinking about fascinators and how they feel about them. I see no difference between a hat or a fascinator personally apart from size. There are many celebrities and royals who have taken to wearing fascinators without looking less smartly dressed up.

Personally i consider fascinators to be more sexy or cheeky than hats. Hats are probably better if the sun is shining but if it is raining i suspect you’re better off with a fascinator!

As for the Royal Enclosure requiring “hats” not fascinators, i don’t believe that it will harm my business as those in the Royal Enclosure tend to be more formal while my work is more quirky and individual.

Keeping in mind that (according to The Guardian) “…new dress code states: “Hats should be worn; a headpiece which has a base of four inches (10cm) or more in diameter is acceptable as an alternative to a hat.”

4 inches covers most of my fascinators so i suspect there will be some confusion when people attend on the day. Pearls & Swine expects to do very well over the Racing season and look forward to being challenged creatively by the more adventurous Ladies Day followers! I am currently creating a new range which is specifically aimed at ladies attending the races which i am very excited about.

Hats and fascinators remain a wonderful way to make a statement so i think as long as Royal Ascot insisted upon that people wear something on their heads i am happy! Sadly people feel they must have a reason to wear a hat because we live in a time where people don’t like to stand out from the crowd, at least the races are a place where hats are welcomed and i think it inspires people to have fun with their headwear.

That can only be a wonderful thing in my opinion as headwear can bring out hidden parts of your character, they affect you as much as make up or heels. Just wear what makes you feel fabulous…

If you have never worn a hat or fascinator i strongly recommend giving it a go, one of the best kept secrets about self confidence is this:

Even if you have NO self confidence, if you pretend you do no one will know the difference!!!

I have found wearing a hat is an amazing phenomena which results in making friends, if you wear a hat you are somehow more approachable, people have a way in to start a conversation, people LOVE eccentrics, they are drawn to things that sparkle like magpies! I have been at my lowest and worn a hat and found myself leaving a party that began with strangers who became friends over the evening, just because i entered the room with confidence and a fascinator!

Life is short, wear something on your head, it’s more fun that way!

Bink x

ALL images by Diana Thompson of www.fashionlovesphotos.co.uk

Photo by Fashion Loves Photos

www.pearlsandswine.co.uk

Huge Glitter Cherry Headband Fasciantor by Pearls & Swine

Photo by Diana Thompson of Fashion Loves Photos

Pearls & Swine: The Half Mask Fascinator

So this blog is about Pearls & Swine’s Half Mask Fascinator, a sort of introduction to a rather quirky accessory which i create. About 5 years ago i created this on a whim and this was the beginning of the idea from which the half mask fascinator grew. I still love this particular creation but is was a bit difficult to wear.

(photo by Diana Thompson of Fashion Loves Photos)

Then came this one:

So i played a bit more and this was the next one i made: The Lavish Pearl Half Mask Fascinator is still one of my best selling creations after several years. I have made it or versions of it for brides, mother of the brides, burlesque performers, those who attend masked balls, fetish nights, goth clubs and more….

(photo by Trafford Parsons, modeled by Lexi Sex)

I keep coming back to the idea of a half mask as this creation continues to inspire me. I love the sensual decadence of it, it is an accessory which creates mystery and allure and it demands the attention of the room when you enter! Something not everyone feel comfortable doing as a thought HOWEVER whenever i get feed back i am always told how much fun people have while wearing theirs! They comment on how many compliments they get and how fabulous they felt wearing it which is what Pearls & Swine is all about, wanting to make people feel fabulous and appreciated for being individual!

I called it a “Half Mask Fascinator” because is both a mask and a fascinator so it attaches to your hair with a comb and it secured more firmly with the use of bobby pins however it is worn over half your face. It is lined with satin to make it more comfortable to wear and can be moved back to be worn more like a fascinator.

You can wear your half mask fascinator with an evening dress, wedding dress, steampunk outfit, fetish or goth club, a burlesque night or on stage as a performer. You can wear it with a simple dress and let it do all the talking as your accessory or you can wear it as part of an elaborate outfit! Or in the boudoir for your lover… it’s a statement piece and it’s fierce (to quote Tyra Banks, heheee).

I did a little Youtube clip on how to attach your half mask…. i am NO movie star and i horribly uncomfortable in front of the camera however hopefully it helps show how to pop it on as i realize some people need a bit of guidance as this is quite a unique accessory: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AxgobsofJM

You can see more of my range of Half Mask Fascinators here: http://pearlsandswine.bigcartel.com/category/half-mask-fascinators

I have several new ideas which i am working on at the moment and i have had many bespoke commissions for all sorts of colour and themes so these creations are here to stay because i love them! As i always say: Why be ordinary if you can be extraordinary?!

Pearls & Swine interview by Jayne’s Kitschen

http://www.jayneskitschen.co.uk/blog/2012/01/09/interview-bink-from-pearls-swine/

Interview: Bink from Pearls & Swine

I’m pleased to be able to bring you another interview from an inspirational lady. Pearls & Swine produce dramatic, vintage inspired accessories such as fascinators, eye patches and hats. Popular amongst the cabaret and burlesque scene, Bink has created a brand that is fun, original and beautiful. I’ve asked Bink to reveal more about her fabulous work.

How did Pearls & Swine begin? Why?

Pearls & Swine evolved through my love of going clubbing and dressing up. I spent every spare moment planning my outfits and creating things to wear. And then over a few years I decided to try selling what i made, people seemed to like it. I didn’t just jump in, I had a couple business names that I worked under until I found the right name for my business, the name which summed me up. I have learnt my craft by just doing it, I get a bee in my bonnet (so to speak) and then i set about bringing the vague idea into reality….

You have a distinct look, but where do you get your inspiration from?

I was exposed to lots of old Hollywood movies as a child, i loved the glamour, the pretty ladies and what they wore! I wanted to be a fabulous salon girl when I grew up…. I think this seed grew into what you see now. My inspiration comes from so many sources that it would be hard to pin point any one thing, it’s a huge mixing pot of bright colours that clash, glitter, film, music, pretty things, creepy things, passion, allowing myself the freedom to create and from each creation comes the next idea. I am slowly but surely changing in my tastes and am surprised to find myself drawn to more subtle colours, lace and increasingly detailed work.

Who are your style icons & why?

My style icons aren’t celebrities, they are my friends, or people who walk down the street wearing something that draws attention to them, drag queens, plus sized ladies who don’t hide in the shadows, people with total confidence! These are the people who make me think and feel, they inspire me to believe in a world beyond the normal, ordinary and the dull! I believe that everybody can be a style icon.

What are your current favourite Pearls & Swine pieces?

My favourite Pearls & Swine creation is generally the item i am creating, once it is made (or expressed as a reality) i am smitten with the next idea that is wanting to be created. I get lots of strange requests and commissions which I adore! The stranger and more elaborate the better! I have made many accessories for brides who want something different, I suspect it’s hard to be outdone at your own wedding if you turn up in a Pearls & Swine accessory! The Giant Cherries Alice Band Fascinator has captured the imagination of many people and my half masks are still something I love to make as they are different from what everyone else is making. I do take pride in creating high quality work which is original, quirky and unique.

What are does the future hold for your brand? Hopes & Dreams?

I think my dreams are quite simple and small, i just want to keep growing slowly. I think i am on a quest, like all creatives i am looking for the Holy Grail of Perfection! As humans we strive for more and better, i think the journey is the exciting bit. I do LOVE creating one off pieces best so in an ideal world i would love to just do bespoke, i have a vast range of accessories which i have made over the past few years, my catalogue is far bigger than i know what do with, my range starts from the head and ends at the foot so that has given me lots of different areas to cover! I hope to collaborate more with high fashion photographers, quirky clothing designers and stylists who want to decorate their shoots with Pearls & Swine.

Thank you to Bink for giving me the chance to interview her. You can find out more about Pearls & Swine on their Facebook Page and Official Website.

Comment below via Disqus or Tweet me @JayneJRead

http://www.jayneskitschen.co.uk/blog/2012/01/09/interview-bink-from-pearls-swine/

Photo by Diana Thompson of Fashion Loves Photos

BESPOKE headdress i made for Venice Pearl who is an burlesque starlet with big unique ideas in terms of her costume!

Not modeled by Venice Pearl, i just wanted to shoot it so i had it recorded and it is my favorite commission of 2011. She has matching pasties and shell fans so i can’t wait to show her off in all her finery! Find Venice Pearl here: https://www.facebook.com/ pages/Venice-Pearl/ 178603752212204

Photo by Diana Thompson of Fashion Loves Photos

BESPOKE headdress i made for Venice Pearl who is an burlesque starlet with big unique ideas in terms of her costume!

Not modeled by Venice Pearl, i just wanted to shoot it so i had it recorded and it is my favorite commission of 2011. She has matching pasties and shell fans so i can’t wait to show her off in all her finery! Find Venice Pearl here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Venice-Pearl/178603752212204

Photo by Diana Thompson for Fashion Loves Photos

Click just below picture to see on the site :)

It’s been a while…..

Hi All!

I have been neglecting my blog/news terribly for several reasons! Firstly i have split my business in 2, Pearls & Swine and my new burlesque business: Temptress of Waikiki! http://www.temptressofwaikiki.bigcartel.com/

So the rumours of the death of the Pearls & Swine nipple pastie have been greatly exaggerated! :) I am finding it better having a split in my business, basically i have too much choice, too many accessories and for the more sensitive… too much skin! Most burlesque performers who come to Pearls & Swine want good quality bespoke pasties and custom c-strings, so the Temptress of Waikiki range is more to show what i can do and have done. You can see more of the work i have done in the past here on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Temptress-of-Waikiki-Pearls-Swines-Burlesque-range/153428488081332

I have been doing a creative business course at Loca in Batley which has been fun, meeting lots of creative people who are local to me. I moved from London to West Yorkshire a few years ago and have just been working non stop so the last few months i feel i have settled into my life here and made lots of new friends…. however it’s time to get the “work/life balance” a bit more balanced!

I am planning to do a couple wedding fairs early next year through: http://www.vintage-wedding-fair.co.uk/

So i have to get a ton of wedding accessories made up, i am feeling very inspired by ivory, pearls, lace, light gold glitter, crystals and horns at the moment! So we shall see what comes out of my inspirations….

I am doing another shoot with Diana Thompson of www.fashionlovesphotos.com next Friday. Planning to run a discount now that Pea from www.1upweb.co.uk has shown me how to do that on my new webshop! This discount will be for those who follow my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pearls-Swine/141692212036 and my Twitter page: https://twitter.com/#!/Pearls_andSwine

That’s all i have in my head at present!

Bink x