With COVID-19 restricting large gatherings, many people have had to reschedule or postpone their weddings. We spoke to London-based milliner and bridal expert Awon Golding (who’s dressed the likes of the Duchess of Sussex, Lady Gaga and Dita Von Teese) on how her brand has adapted to these testing times – as her finely crafted pieces are meant to be worn during grand, festive events such as weddings. Her creative solution? The most gorgeous bridal face masks.
Which piece is your favourite within the face mask range you’ve specifically crafted to reflect the pandemic situation?
I love the Bonica mask; it’s the perfect blend of drama and elegance that you want on your big day. The ribbons are wired so you can reposition as you please. I also love the Rosa mask, which has a removable hand-made silk rose brooch so you can pin it on your dress or lapel afterward.
For brides who would like to invest in a headpiece or custom hat as a part of their wedding attire, what pointers would you give them?
Try on lots of pieces to see what suit you and what you feel comfortable wearing. Of all the accessories associated with a wedding, a headpiece is the most important, in my opinion, as it features the most prominently in photographs and makes for a fantastic heirloom for future generations. It’s money well-spent.
With social distancing directly limiting events and lavish functions, does it impact the way you design?
Due to COVID and subsequent capacity restrictions, weddings have shifted away from large venues and elaborate church or cathedral weddings. We see many more city-hall civil ceremonies and intimate affairs with a select few friends and family. Huge, long, decorated gowns seem out of place in these more private venues, so I’ve seen a trend amongst my brides for wearing more relaxed silhouettes, jumpsuits and shorter dresses. A birdcage veil or structured bow pairs with this simplified look very well.
During this challenging year, how do you stay mentally well?
I’m trying to keep myself busy and keep on creating. The more you make, the more you grow as a designer, so I’m using this time to further my millinery skills and push myself to be a better designer. On top of that, I’ve started running to stay fit and as a means to keep grounded.
What are your thoughts on virtual weddings?
I recently went to a wedding where my friend’s parents had to Zoom in as they were in LA and couldn’t make it to London due to travel restrictions. It’s sad, but necessary in these times. We’re just lucky that the technology exists for people to still be “present” without actually being in the room.
Do you think that more designers will venture into creating bridal masks as the New Year unfolds?
I’m sure that more bridal brands will launch masks. I’m not really sure why they haven’t done it already. I think it’s a cool keepsake from an incredibly strange point in history; it really dates your ceremony as being in the time of COVID. I’ve definitely seen an uptick in general of designers launching their own masks. I think we’ll see more of this as the pandemic progresses and people start using reusable masks more. The reality is that we’re wearing face masks for hours on end almost seven days a week now, so why would you not get something that looks stylish as well as being functional?
Awon Golding’s bridal masks and covetable hats are available on awongolding.com
We use cookies to enhance and personalize your experience, and to analyze traffic on our website. For more information, see our Cookie Policy. ACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.