I have had something in the works since July of last year. While I have loved designing for brides for the past twenty years, my creative soul has been yearning for more; for something different. I want to design in color with no boundaries. Whatever comes to mind, I want to create. The entertainment industry, high fashion editorial, professional competitors, burlesque, and non-traditional brides are my target audience.
Photo by Michael J. Ramos
“I became inspired after attending my first World Beauty Fitness and Fashion competition in New York City last summer. The fashion influence of Lady Gaga added to my quest to design outside of the box and unleashed a desire to create accessories that were vividly exploding in my mind.”
WBFF Costume Design
My daughter, Aubrey, competed in the WBFF competition in New York City on July 27th, 2019. She ordered her bikini from a preferred vendor for the competition. When it arrived, it needed fit adjustments and much more bling. The accessories I envisioned would make her bikini and feather accessory eye-catching not only to the judges but to her competitors as well.
Aubrey’s accessory ideas came easy to me. A beautiful headpiece created in reds and golds and a gold jeweled split veil coming from her feathers added drama to her theme wear bikini.
Picturing the finished design in my mind included everything from head to toe. The red platform shoes I designed with fluttering feathers and Swarovski crystal elevated her costume design to another level.
“After this competition my thoughts controlled me. Every day I drifted in and out of a colorful dream picturing my designs being sought after.”
My son, Schuyler, is a creative at Observatory Agency in Los Angeles. I love to talk with him about everything creative. I told him about my plan to design in color and outside of traditional bridal. In an instant, he came up with the idea of a new brand called Headpiece After Dark. This is where it all began.
Schuyler Hunt
His talent speaks for itself. Schuyler is a creative genius! See his work at mynameisimpossible.com
Headpiece After Dark
Ideas circled in my head. I needed a team of top talent to create Headpiece After Dark. Michael J. Ramos was number one on the list.
Photographer Michael J. Ramos
Michael is among the best there is in wedding photography. His passions also include high fashion editorial and food blogging.
Hair Stylist Jessica Domoney
Jessica flew in from Fort Myers, Florida to style for our shoot. She has made a name for herself on social media with her bridal looks. Jessica is known for her color and extension work.
Make Up Artist Cara Lovello
Cara is making it to the top of the charts in the makeup world. She has beautified quite a few celebrities and had the precise beauty style we were looking for.
Model Aubrey Hunt
Aubrey has been an entrepreneur since age 22 launching her own personal training and fitness business. She is also known as @TheBrideTrainer on Instagram.
Model Nicole Hunt
Nicole works in the fragrance field as an evaluator. She was my bride in 2017 and has been my model ever since. Her zest for adventure combined with her beauty makes her a TEN!
Marie Hunt and Italian Atelier Teresa Cristaldi
Teresa is the owner of Teresa Cristaldi Atelier in NJ. She studied and worked in Milan, Italy, for Prada Atelier, gaining years of knowledge. Her eye for fashion and how it forms to the body is like a language to her. She speaks it fluently.
Gowns Marissa Mackay and Kathryn Metzler
Marissa and Kathryn are the owners of Something Bleu Bridal in Saratoga Springs, NY. We have collaborated on many photoshoots. Their exquisite gown selection is the reason I recommend them to all of my brides.
Lady Gaga inspired my vision from the very beginning. I picture Lady Gaga wearing my headpiece designs to bedizen her striking black gown designed by Alexander McQueen designer Sara Burton for her performance at the Oscars, and her Golden Globe dreamy blue gown designed by Valentino. The gowns I chose for our shoot encompassed all of my Lady Gaga dreams of accessory design.
Shoot Day at Art Factory Studios
Photography by Michael J. Ramos
Eloise, designed by Claire Pettibone, was the perfect color blue for my first headpiece design. Claire Pettibone fills the gap for non-traditional bridal design. Her collections are romantic, sexy, and challenge tradition.
“Diverging from the norm is my intent with Headpiece After Dark. I want to appeal to clients who lust to be the first to wear something different, colorful, and eccentric! ”
When I assemble a team for a photoshoot, I suggest direction but never dictate it. I trust that the people I have on set are one with the vision. Cara handcrafted this beauty-look, adding the right amount of pop and color palette to make this session ready for Vogue.
“I loved all of the makeup and fashion paired with each headpiece. This shoot was super edgy and dramatic. Mike is an absolute master at his craft. He has the best equipment and knows exactly what to do.”
Italian designer, Elisabetta Polignano, could design the Ninfa dress in any color and I don’t think I would love it any less. This pink silk gown is Oscar worthy—or Golden Globe worthy—definitely Lady Gaga worthy!
Placement of my headpiece designs is so important to me. When I create a design, I already know how I want placed. I design my pieces so they can be worn in many ways. This incredible billowing gown called for the headpiece to be directly on the hairline.
“This shoot was my first non-traditional bridal shoot. It was fun to see my mom’s creativity come to life. There is no end to her artistry. Just when you think she designed the most beautiful, unique piece you have ever seen, she creates something that blows your mind again. She literally creates something out of nothing. It is really cool to watch!”
Period fashion also sparks my imagination. When I was a student at the Fashion Institute of Technology, Fashion History was my favorite course of study. I found the Netflix series, The Tudors, to be a treasure chest of inspiration. The 16th-century fashion during the reign and marriages of King Henry VIII prompted this headpiece design. This piece works precisely with Jessica’s signature braided hair flowers.
When I spotted the Ophelia gown by Claire Pettibone, I immediately gathered all of my colored freshwater pearls and pastel crystals and began creating this set of flexible vines. The colors in this masterful dress are like that of the Garden of Versailles.
It is very easy to picture this gown and hair accessory in a soft ivory when Michael photographed it in black and white. The transformation into color is like watching the Wizard of Oz.
I wanted to shoot on the edge this time. As the very long day went on, we tried to escape the looming darkness and hang on to natural light. It was the last few hours of shooting when the true vision of Headpiece After Dark became alive.
“My third time shooting with Marie was a different feel and a new thing for both of us. We went a bit out of the comfort zone, shooting more editorial style. The styles were edgy and the venue gritty, making for a more magazine-like shoot. It was mood esthetic. ”
Teresa is my atelier. Her design skills are at an expert level. I could think of no other to help me on the set. Teresa was the first to touch any garment for alteration, and the second pair of eyes to make sure the garments were perfect for the camera. At the last minute, I needed another gown for this look. Teresa redesigned this black dress, adding crystal straps and cutting the underlay to the thigh to give it the high fashion editorial style we wanted.
“The beauty and perfection of the universe are found in a piece of jewelry. I have studied Cartier in the French language. It takes time to cut and create such sparkle. I see this in your work. You are talented, Marie. Your designs are a piece of art. ”
I designed this headpiece for Fericci, an haute couture fashion house in Paris. It was the first time we were shooting it in the U.S.A., and I absolutely loved how Michael captured it.
During my trip to Key West in February, I came across a netted rhinestone dress overlay three weeks before the shoot. As soon as I saw it, I bought it! This idea came to my mind immediately, once again inspired by the series, The Tudors. We named the look, Key West!
“My favorite style was the “Key West” outfit. I loved that piece from the moment you showed it to me before the shoot ever happened. I was so happy I was the one who got to model it. I loved the colors and felt like a bronze goddess. I was definitely most confident in this look. The tricks that Mike used to get the shots of me holding the hairpins were so cool. Mike went above and beyond to get the best shot, not only in this look but in all of them.”
Burlesque dates as far back as the 1840’s and became very popular in the early 1900’s. One of my brides came into the shop while I was designing this next headpiece and ear jewelry. She told me her friend was a professional burlesque dancer and might be interested in my work. This made me realize there are many markets for Headpiece After Dark.
This headpiece, made in different shades of turquoise and blues, was my first headpiece design for Headpiece After Dark. I imagined this design while in spin class, and with every spin class I attended, this showcase piece became more spectacular. The ear jewelry was one of the best accessories I ever made.
“My favorite style to shoot was the turquoise draping. I felt like I was in a fairytale. It made me feel alive.”
The darkest looks were shot at the end of the day. As a matter of fact, I wasn’t even there. I left the set to get Jessica off to the airport for her return flight to Florida. This styled look happened to be Jessica’s favorite and we weren’t even there for the shooting.
“The detail in every single piece of your work left my jaw dropped open. The individuality and detail in these pieces are unlike anything I have ever seen. I loved the black leather leaf extensions on Aubrey with the braided hair flowers.”
“It was a good time for my exit. I knew I wanted it to end it black and white. I left my vision in the hands of those who knew what I wanted to express. This last part of the shoot was like a gift to me, like the present under the tree.”
These final shots are the dawn of Headpiece After Dark.
This blog was supposed to post last month. We all have to find our way out of the darkness and back into the light. For me, Headpiece After Dark might be the way. Please follow us on our fashion journey @headpieceafterdark. See you next month on the Fourteenth.
