Crowning Glory

The number of Pinays who wear headpieces is growing at a fast rate, and it’s not just because of the Royal Wedding of the century. Headwear designers such as Tracy Dizon will surely be flooded with orders after this weekend. Dizon’s colorful personality and style can be seen in her quirky and whimsical headpieces. Where does she get her inspiration?


Manila Bulletin: How did you get into making headpieces?
Tracy Dizon: I started to make them in simple forms, but I really got into developing hats and fascinators when I became a finalist for the Japan Fashion Design Contest 2009 in Tokyo (with Veejay Floresca and Nicole Mori). My entry was a handpainted pillbox, which was inspired from pop art and 1960’s fashion. Then after a month or so, “Tiara by Tracy Dizon” was born. With the help, support, and recommendations of my fashion mentor Joey Samson, and my colleagues, I’ve penetrated the wedding industry by collaborating with them with wedding entourage headpieces.

MB: What are your headpieces made of?
TD: I am proud to say I use sinamay Filipino fibers; it makes my headpieces have an organic and natural feel to it. But I also want my pieces to become globally competitive. I don’t want Filipino fashion pieces to be just exoticized or be labeled as exotic materials, so I make headpieces using rich fabrics and materials, which I personally pick out and source everywhere. I also use different types of feathers, from traditional feathers, to peacock feathers, to ostrich feathers, goose feathers even, which are my personal favorite.

MB: How do you come up with these pieces in your mind?
TD: With wedding clients, mostly, I take into consideration the theme, venue and how conservative the couples would be. Then, I find the most interesting fabrics and textures, almost same with design clothes I get my inspiration from things that fascinate me in this world: from Oriental prints, Jane Austen literature, the pop art movement, cherry blossoms of Japan, and ska music. It’s basically world history!


MB: Who are your customers?
TD: Wedding clients! Of course, happy and fun-loving clients who want Lady-GaGa-ish accents are very welcome, too! I dream of going global; I hope someday I can sell my pieces in London, New York, Australia, Paris and, of course, Harajuku in Tokyo.

MB: Do you have a muse? What is she like?
TD: I have wide range of muses, from my resident model Aika Yamaguchi who is half-Japanese and super kawaii and who I met way back when I was in Project Runway—she has been my model ever since. Kate Middleton, Betty Paige, Betsey Johnson and from fictional characters, Jane Austen characters. Lately, I’ve been inspired with a Haruki Murakami novel character: Midori Kobayashi of Norwegian Wood.


MB: If you were to make one for Kate Middleton for her wedding day, what would it be?
TD: I’d make her a lavish pillbox hat with a rich ostrich feather accent and embellished with crystals. And with crystal accent, it would be like a modern mix of a tiara and a fascinator, which Kate is getting known for.


MB: If you were a guest to the royal wedding, what would you wear?
TD: Wow! It’d be such an honor to be part of it. I’ll probably wear a pink Chanel-inspired trench coat with a subtle frou-frou dress inside. Topping it off with a Tiara fascinator like my Oriental Overture collection. It’s a burst of feathers but still elegant-looking.

* Tiara by Tracy Dizon is available at AC+632, Greenbelt 5, and F*Art at Kamuning, Q.C.
* For orders and inquiries, visit her website or send an e-mail to march30girls@gmail.com or look for her in Facebook and Twitter.