{Robyn Adele Anderson from Postmodern Jukebox photographed by Benjamin Stone}
I handcraft glamorous hats and headpieces and other adornments inspired by styles of the past using lots of original vintage and antique materials, and humanely sourced feathers. I have many offerings in my online Etsy shop, and I delight in adapting these styles to each bride’s particular dreams, as well as in starting from scratch to realize her visions. I also can create matching sets of clips or hairpins for bridesmaids, or similar pieces with variations but the same color palette, customizing the colors however she likes!
I’ve been focusing on designing hats and headpieces professionally for five years, the last 4 of which I’ve been based here in Buffalo. Its been a wonderful place to be! I especially appreciate that it offers the inspiring influences of nearby abundant nature, as well as gorgeous art deco architecture and, of course, an active, creative community of makers, artists and designers.
I became really excited about designing pieces that blurred the boundaries between theatrical, fantastic costumes and day to day attire after performing as a puppeteer and living statue performer in New Orleans, NYC and San Francisco for over 10 years. I realized I loved the costuming aspect of creating these performances and I’m a big fan of creating more opportunities in our day to day lives for dressing up! Around the same time, my best friend asked me to create her wedding headpiece. It was so much fun to work with her to make her dream headpiece, and a wonderful way to contribute my energy and love to her special day.
That was really when owllamode began taking shape, and perhaps is part of why I’m always especially delighted to create pieces for brides, bridesmaids and mothers of the bride or groom. Its such an honor to have my work chosen to be part of this most special of celebrations, and so exciting to help each bride realize her own unique vision!
Through my pieces look delicate and are often made with ephemeral antique materials I take time and care to create them in such a way that they are secretly quite sturdy, and will last to be treasured and worn for many years to come. I’m very much inspired by vintage styles, especially Victoriana, the 1920s and old hollywood, and it is such a pleasure and an endless source of inspiration to give beautiful scraps from these times a new place in the world, and also to adapt these styles with modern materials, and to modern sensibilities.
I love using feathers, which can evoke both an othertimely glamour, as well as the natural world. Its important to me, in being inspired by this beautiful plumage, to also honor the creatures they are from, so I take care to source the feathers I use in humane, sustainable ways whenever possible, like using naturally molted feathers gathered from free range pet birds, or feathers from humane, organic farms. I also use lots of vintage or repurposed feathers, in addition to my other vintage and re-purposed materials.
I offer pieces in a variety of price ranges, from $20 for a simple hairpin to $250 for a custom elaborate and ornate hand beaded headdress. I am pleased to offer a 10% discount on orders of 3 or more pieces.