Fourteenth: Nine Ideas For Repurposing a Vintage Headpiece
You’d be amazed at what can be done to modernize an old bridal headpiece or crown. Save your laughs when your mother or grandmother offers to let you wear it for your walk down the aisle. Your vintage headpiece could be transformed into a spectacular bridal accessory that might become the talk of your wedding day.
Planning a wedding can be overwhelming. Thinking of how to restore, restyle, or repurpose your loved one’s headpiece can add stress to this very special time in your life. With a little direction from an experienced designer, you will realize how many beautiful options there are.
1. Create Hairpins
Jackie came to the shop with her mom’s 1989 vintage wreath made of seed bead leaves, flowers, and pearl filaments. I loved the elements of her mother’s piece and suggested we make them into hairpins.
BEFORE
1989 Wreath style headpiece
AFTER
2023 Floral leaf hairpins
May 20, 2023
Bri Johnson Weddings
Bri Johnson Weddings
2. Design a Headband
I met Janice through a virtual consultation since she resided in Maryland. She sent her mom’s 1995 lace halo, hoping we could use the lace to create an accessory for her wedding day. I suggested a flexible headband style with added crystal beading.
BEFORE
1995 Lace halo with a pouf
AFTER
2023 Sleek and modern flexible beaded headband
March 19, 2023
THMS Photography
THMS Photography
3. Change to a Backstyle
I love this vintage millinery piece from 1955. Ericka met me virtually from Arizona, wishing to use some of the lace pieces from her grandmother’s headpiece.
BEFORE
1955 Bridal millinery
AFTER
2023 Backstyle with added crystal work
April 22, 2023
Hayley Moore Photography
4. Reconfigure it
I have worked on many 2-tier crowns from the sixties, which I love! Brittany brought us her grandmother’s crown. It needed extensive restoration work due to crushing and aged hairspray damage. Once I brought the crystals and pearls back to life, Brittany worked with me to restyle her grandmother’s crown into a single modern style crown.
BEFORE
1963 Two-tier pearl and crystal crown
AFTER
2022 Single tier crown with restored crystals and pearls
December 18, 2022
David and Vicki Arndt Photography
David and Vicki Arndt Photography
5. Design a Hair Brooch
Nikki was a California bride. We had several virtual meetings to redesign her mother’s basic eighties-style wreath into a statement hair brooch. Added custom crystal work elevated her bridal accessory to the highest level of design.
BEFORE
1989 fabric floral wreath with pouf
AFTER
2023 Couture crystal, vintage flower hair brooch
April 22, 2023
Brandi Allyse Photo
Brandi Allyse Photo
6. Make It Smaller
Ali came to us with only weeks to go, wishing to restyle her mom’s voluminous 1989 headpiece into a delicate accessory for her wedding day. Several of her mom’s petite flowers, with cleaned and restored AB crystal briolettes, created the perfect subtle accent she was looking for.
BEFORE
1989 Pearlescent floral, pearl, and AB crystal headpiece
AFTER
2022 Flexible wired backtyle with vintage pearlescent flowers and AB briolettes
September 22, 2023
Brooke Nash Photography
7. Restore to Its Original Beauty
This beautiful metal leaf, crystal, and pearl crown needed a complete restoration for Julianna to wear on her wedding day. She traveled from Pennsylvania to see if we could restore it to its original beauty.
BEFORE
1966 Metal leaf two-tier crown
AFTER
2023 Fully restored two-tier sixties crown
June 10, 2023
The Pros Weddings
8. Restyle Into Several Accessories
I met my New York City bride, Cara, through FaceTime. She loved her mom’s 1988 floral headpiece, but it didn't work with her vision of a beautiful hair down-style and Savin London wedding gown.
BEFORE
1988 large floral spray
AFTER
2023 floral spray repurposed into three different accessories to be styled into one
June 24, 2023
Myra Roman Photography
Myra Roman Photography
9. wear it two ways
Mary Kate called me late one night while closing the shop six weeks before her wedding. She had just left her hair trial and realized she couldn’t use the beloved crown her grandmother wore in 1961 because the crown circumference was small and closed. This beautiful crown needed major alterations and restoration to be worn on her wedding day.
BEFORE
1961 Family heirloom vintage crystal crown
AFTER
2023 restored and altered crystal crown with additional hair pins
March 16, 2023
TMT Weddings
TMT Weddings
Do you have a vintage headpiece or wedding veil you would like to restyle, repurpose, or restore? I would love to help you reimagine your family bridal accessory and turn it into something unique, meaningful, and beautiful to wear on your wedding day. Reach out. I assure you, you will love the experience! <3 Marie
See you next month on the Fourteenth