Jill
Humphries
My Millinery Award entry for 2024 has pulled its focus from the VRC supporting and encouraging sustainability in the design while using innovation with the main feature materials - recycled Schewppes bottles made into wisteria. Spring in Melbourne is awash with romantic wisteria vines, that almost seem to multiply their purple hues overnight. I wanted to create something that replicated that romantic vision and feeling - a vine picked while at its best and wrapped in white paper for the journey home. The Wisteria petals were hand cut from recycled Schweppes bottles and then coloured before being individually moulded over an open flame. Quills and millinery wire were curled to create the vines, feathers cut and shaped to replicate the leaves. This was all hand wrapped in brown thread to hold (that took way longer than expected). To raise the headpiece a white parisisol button was created and this anchored the crinoline "wrapping paper". And in a nod to my love of bows a wired bow synches the gift together. This piece is modelled by longtime friend and muse Bree Ogilvy - and it is with much excitement that we enter again, 10 years since our debut and win with the Bird in 2014. And in a first, Jill commissioned her daughter Alivea Humphries to create the make up for the shoot (First official MU placement). So please enjoy the headpiece, the creation and the artistic journey taken to get to this point.
Outfit
Carla Zampatti Lilac Crepe Ruffle Shoulder dress is accentuated with a silk organza ruffle that falls down the left of the body
Shoes
TBC
Millinery
Wistful Wisteria
Accessories
Minimal - lilac glass drop earrings, clutch