Veiling changes what a piece says before anything else does. A short birdcage falling to the cheekbone reads modern and a little guarded, and it is the one detail that turns a plain outfit into an occasion.
Every veil here is cut and hand-attached in the London atelier. The veiled pieces are built on a band, so there is nothing to pin and nothing to hold through a long day.
Choosing yours
Three things that decide a veil
How far it should fall
A birdcage stopping at the cheekbone leaves the mouth clear and reads modern. Falling to the chin it turns formal and dramatic. Below the chin it belongs to a bride or a memorial.
What the colour signals
Black veiling at a funeral is a quiet mark of respect and nothing heavier is expected of anyone. The same netting in ivory reads bridal, and a tonal veil over strong colour is pure race day.
Funeral hats and headpiecesEating, drinking and photographs
Cut above the mouth, a veil lets you drink and speak without lifting it. Handle it by the base and let it hang rather than folding it, and it will keep its shape for years.
How to care for itMade for you
Monika will cut a veil to your own face, choose the netting and match the base by hand to your fabric. One to four weeks from the first conversation.
Veiling adds depth to a simple shape and a little mystery to the face. A short birdcage suits the day, a longer veil suits a wedding or a memorial. Each veil is hand-attached in the London atelier.
Questions
What is a birdcage veil?
A short veil of open netting that falls from the front or the side of a headpiece and covers part of the face, usually to the cheekbone or the chin. It takes its name from the way the netting curves around the face instead of hanging flat. Each veil here is cut and hand-attached to the piece in the London atelier.
Can you see through a birdcage veil?
Yes, easily. The netting is open enough to read a service sheet and see a step in front of you, and to the eye it reads as texture across the cheekbone. A veil cut above the mouth also lets you drink and speak without lifting it, which is why that length is the one most people choose for a long day.
Is a veil appropriate for a funeral?
A short black veil is a traditional mark of respect at a funeral or a memorial and is appropriate for family and guests alike. Nothing longer or heavier is expected of anyone. If you would rather leave the face uncovered, a plain black headpiece or a small hat carries the same formality without the netting.
Can the veil be matched to my outfit?
Yes. The netting and the base are matched by hand to a swatch, a photograph or a piece of your own fabric, so the two can sit in the same tone or deliberately apart. Black over black is the quietest version. A tonal veil over a strong colour is what makes a race day piece look considered.