FrockQ: Philomena Kwok, Featherhead

The talented creator behind hair accessories label Featherhead gives us the rundown on her brand, her inspirations, and her feathers:

How long have you been designing for, and how did you get started in the industry?

I've been making and designing jewellery since I was fourteen! I first started out with my jewellery label, the purpose divine, making bespoke bridal jewellery and pieces in silver, resin and semiprecious stones. It was great fun, and I used to have a stall at Paddington Markets in Sydney.

Last year however, I started Featherhead - an accessories label making the sorts of things I actually wanted to wear. It was partly inspired by a trip to Japan where I spent a month gawping at the fearless and totally fab girls in Tokyo. The fashion may not have always been right for everyone but it was definitely FUN and the girls there must have had a blast getting dressed and accessorising every day. Experiencing things like that definitely washes into you. When I came home I started a millinery course to expand my skill set and try my hand using some different materials - the rest is Featherhead history.

What is it about feathers that inspires you to create your pieces?
I've always found feathers incredibly fascinating and used to collect them when I was tot. You never Ever find two the same, so even after working with them for so long I am still astounded at how beautiful and unique they are. Some are ethereal and wispy, others bold or irridescent with unbelievably vibrant colours, its hard not to be inspired by something so pretty and textural.

My favourite thing to do at the moment is to use gorgeous natural toned feathers and then add in a contrasting splash of colour with bright dyed feathers. It adds a edgy toughness without taking away from the natural beauty of the feathers.

Do you have a particularly favourite piece that you've created?
One of my recent favourites is a crazy shoulder piece I put together for a fashion parade raising awareness for the Aids Trust. Huge red ostrich epaulettes and dripping with heavy metal chains. I wish I could get away with wearing these every day! The piece had been put on a bit wrong in this photo but you get the idea. Too much fun!

How would you recommend wearing your feathered creations?
I'd recommend wearing a Featherhead piece to add a subtle edge to a toned down urban look. Either an unexpected splash of softness and colour with a cute feather hair clip, sweater dress and tights, or a textural edge with one the snakeskin lined cuffs or necklets, skinny jeans and boots.

What trends are you looking forward to rocking for Spring/Summer?
I cannot wait for warmer weather to wear my feather epaulettes pinned onto cute singlets and tanks (interesting shoulders are the best thing since skinny jeans)! And just enough sunshine to wear a cute tshirt dress, big wispy feather earrings and gumboots without tights underneath. I'm not ready to give up gumboots just yet!

More is not neccessarily More

In terms of flashing skin, that is. Today was a local public holiday due to the Cup (don't worry, your parcels still went out...local public holidays don't apply to us, particularly when they are for a 'yobbos get drunk and stumble around in pointy shoes' event). The ladies and I, being too mature/intent on saving/in the midst of detoxes gave it a miss in favour of a gossip over an (iced) coffee. Of course, this meant venturing into the CBD where it was a visual feast of frocks, fascinators and fails as we watched the spray-tanned hordes on their way trackside to eat, drink and be merry. Oh and watch a horse race or two. If they remember.

Now, unless you're into equestrian-related activites, local Cups are simply for frocking up and enjoying a bottle of wine or twenty. It's rare that they are a classy affair, even before the whole heels-in-hands stumble home. Most people aren't drunk before they dress themselves, which means there's even less of an excuse for the following fashion faux pas:

1). Hemlines that are too short - your Nanna will tell you the basic rule - the shorter the hemline, the more you cover up on top. A strapless dress with a hem that brushes your bum cheeks is not a good look, regardless of how tall and thin you may be. And especially if you've become good friends with Mr Cellulite. 

2). Heels that you can't walk in - you're not going to wear clunky sensibles from Colorado, but it's still worth investing in shoes that have a heel that won't sink into the grass, won't rub on your toes and make you walk like you're constipated, and don't make you look like you charge $5 an hour. Especially true if point 1 is relevant.

3). Fascinators - really they're completely pointless, but lots of fun nonetheless. There is more to them, however, than simply stocking up on Spotlight netting and whacking it on the side of your head with a sparkly brooch from Diva. Heck, Diva will have already done that for you, for $12.99.

4). Florals - pretty and girly, and a springtime staple year in and year out. Note: currently, it's not spring. Note: most look horribly cheap when you attempt to dress them up. Note: your Nanna is probably wearing floral too. Note: the majority of women there, will probably safely stick with floral. Note: will look beautiful with a more casual outfit.

5). Mixing pointed shoes with sporty sunglasses and carefully mussed hair - guys, it screams yobbo. Or footballer. Or that you like to talk about utes. It's possible to dress nicely without looking like a confused cowboy. Shirt, tie, pants, shoes that look like they cover a natural foot shape.

So, how to look classy, or at least a bit less like a suburban hussy? It's probably warm out, so choose which bits you want to expose - and cover the rest. You're meant to dress up and have fun, so go with a cool hairpiece with it's own unique look. (Remember, there's a Diva in every city, so identicalfashion-crises are probable). You could try something like this:

Dress - strapless, but with a longer hemline, in classic shades of nude and black with beautiful draping:

100GBP, Asos not neccesarily budget friendly, but it's gorgeous enough that you'd be making an effort to wear it again. At least, tell the Mr that's your plan. Add the Featherhead Enigma Clip $39.95 for a subtle yet still fancy hair decoration, and slip into the Estee Heel by Tony Bianco ($149.95) - they're comfy, trust me.

Just so you know, last time I remember partying trackside, my shoes came off by 2pm and same with the hairclip. All class, all class.

Featherhead: Handmade feather hair accessories

If you're a regular visitor to our What's New page you may have noticed our latest label, Featherhead. If you're an avid magazine reader/streetstylewatcher/glamvintage kindalady, you'll probably have noticed that these kinds of accessories are HOT right now. And not in a Melbourne Cup kinda way either.

Handmade in Sydney (by a lovely Frock You customer, no less!) each piece is as unique - no two feathers are the same! If you're not game (pardon the pun) for a full-on plume, go for the absolutely gorgeous thin headbands ($39.95 - $49.95) to trial the look. The clips are a massive hit with bridal parties, and you can contact Featherhead through their website for customised pieces. From jewelled tones to full on sequins, they make a blah outfit beautiful. A party piece for yourself would make a fab last minute stocking filler, no?