Pearls & Swine

The beautiful Joanna seems to have stolen the show at Ascot in her black Pearls & Swine giant cherries and tattoos…. she got everyone talking, here she is on the front page of The Daily Mail. Sadly these cherries are now sold out but i have more cherries on my site: www.pearlsandswine.co.uk

1st March 2012: Pearls & Swine News!

So much has happened in the last couple weeks!!!

SHOOTS featuring Pearls & Swine:

The rather marvelous Netherlands photographer Peter Kemp shot some Pearls & Swine. A dream come true for me as i have loved his work for years but never dreamed i would be this lucky :) !!
BIG thanks to the rather DIVINE stylist Vivian Kramer Gezegd Freher of http:// www.slightly-sarcastic.nl/

Miss Malone in Pearls & Swine cherries:

http://missymalone-behindtheglitter.blogspot.com/2012/02/food-fight.html?spref=tw

Abyss shot by Rei Bennet:

Chloe Bowman shoot

Pasties for Venice Pearl

Latest BLOGS on Pearls & Swine:

http://saraisinlovewith.blogspot.com/search/label/Headpiece

http://www.rockalily.com/blog/rockabilly-hair-flowers-big-ones.html

Pearls & Swine is in the Etsy newsletter again… Those cherries are getting SO much love, they are getting treasured on Etsy almost daily at the moment! Sadly i only have a limited amount left so soon they will be NO more as the manufacturers are no longer making them…. :( ! http://app.bronto.com/public/?q=preview_message&fn=Link&t=1&ssid=12675&id=1kg5fdo3gmo6me5upy91x952amkqc&id2=l6zfr1i4z2eg5xb6fhdv9bty9ut88&subscriber_id=bjjjqsnzpawhamuqjiwggvhrfvcdbfc&messageversion_id=blrhupuymjbrdceyigdwvhwpgordbja&delivery_id=alusmxzsbpvpbcnysueyvalritdybcp&tid=3.MYM.AWHBLg.AfcT.D23w..RbY_.s.Fxg.l.Eg.a.T0AtcA.T0A97A.fO-B_w

DONATED Pearls & Swine:

Donated some nipple pasties and collar to a lovely London charity night organized by Natalie Booth from series two of Take Me Out:
https://www.facebook.com/ events/215748458519939/
Read this blog to find out more! :)
It’s on 16th March! Go and support Cancer Research, Natalie is also running a marathon!!! O_O This is for her friend who passed away.

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

Pacha NYC wearing Pearls & Swine Giant Cherries (Dec 2011)

Well, this is a bit exciting and the pictures are stunning so i had to share! The world famous Pacha girls were styled by the lovely Alexandra Houston Carroll for whom the Pearls & Swine Giant Cherries were totally perfect for! Pacha’s immediately recognizable logo being the double cherries…. so here are the lovely ladies :)

www.pearlsandswine.co.uk

Pearls & Swine News!

Hi All

I’ve been super busy so far this year! I have my Pearls & Swine mojo back in a BIG way and i am feeling very inspired and excited for the future. of Pearls & Swine. 2012 is shaping up to be the most exciting year as i finally feel i have total control, goals and direction.

Pearls & Swine has several fascinator ranges coming up which i am extremely excited about (including new crowns, vintage inspired fascinators, bridal hair accessories and more!)

Lots of amazing photographers keen to shoot Pearls & Swine, brides from around the world commissioning Pearls & Swine fascinators, here are 2 bridal accessories i recently made for 2 bubbly brides:

,

Burlesque performers commissioning Pearls & Swine’s burlesque range: Temptress of Waikiki nipple pasties, i am currently working on some stunning crystal 3D roses. Here is some of the new materials that Temptress of Wakiki in stock, this year i intend to crack the shooting of nipple pasties in a non burlesque way as i firmly believe that nipple pasties can and should be worn by all!

You can see more of the Temptress of Waikiki range here, though remember bespoke orders are most welcome: http://temptressofwaikiki.bigcartel.com/

Photos coming in from shoots i have lent work to, i am uploading images almost daily on the Pearls & Swine Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/PearlsandSwine

Amazing image featuring the Pearls & Swine mirror ball fascinator from Photographer: Juul de Vries, Model: Rosalie Engelgeer, Make up: Susanna Tadjab, Styling: Vivian Kramer, Slightly-Sarcastic

I have just done my 1st wedding fair ever, run by the lovely people at http://www.vintage-wedding-fair.co.uk/ who’s 2nd Vintage Wedding Fair i will be selling at on the 31st March in London. Here is my stall, always the most colourful (and my glam assistant Helen who made everyone eat sweeties and try on hats)

I am about to do an Alt/burlesque/fetish fair in Manchester on the 25th Feb 2012 (i haven’t done fairs in years but this year i hope to do at least one a month), i am learning so much right now that i am working in my sleep!

I had a lovely blog done on Pearls & Swine by these kind people which was a nice surprise: http://www.thetrendygirl.net/2012/01/la-mode-burlesque-pearls-swine.html

I have set up a mailing list and sent out my 1st mail out, i have decided to do fun tutorials and offer £100 worth of Pearls & Swine goodies to those who join my mailing list: http://pearlsandswine.bigcartel.com/sign-up-to-our-mailing-list

I have just helped my partner Trafford Parson’s do some graffiti in Manchester:

Check out more of our efforts here: https://www.facebook.com/TraffordParsons. He has been commissioned to do a whole street of shutters on one of the coolest streets of Manchester, which is great!

My beloved Joe Black did a fab painting inspired by one of my Pearls & Swine crown images (taken by Diana Thompson of Fashion Loves Photos). He is now taking commissions! Check his site: http://www.misterjoeblack.com/

And that is just about all the Pearls & Swine related news i have in my head right now…..

Happy Valentines! Bink x

www.pearlsandswine.co.uk

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?!