Innate Reaction: Emma Yeo AW13

Each season at Somerset House the highlight of the London Fashion Week exhibition for me is to explore the intriguing and thrilling new millinery. I cannot tell you how excited I was when I found I'd been invited to the Headonism launch, as supported by the Royal Ascot and curated by the fabulous Stephen Jones. Headonism is a wonderfully exciting showcase for emerging milliners and I love chatting to the lovely milliners.
I've come across Emma Yeo's work before in collaboration with Corrie Nielsen, but I was absolutely blown away when I saw her creations up close. Across the sun drenched room I was drawn to the beauty of her exquisite creations. I was enticed like a moth to a flame, which is rather appropriate considering the inspiration behind this ethereal collection. Yeo was inspired by the delicate nature and erratic flittering movements of a creature ever entranced by the light.
Yeo here works in wood, which proves a fascinating medium as the craftmanship in these pieces is exquisite: from the dramatic elongated wing shapes to the wispiest of layers and delicate lasercut details. The moth is incredible as it flies but also incredibly fragile and these pieces capture both that strength but also its delicate nature. She also captures flurries of movement the human eye normally misses, as well as shadows whilst exploring light and shade.
There's something wonderfully ethereal about these amazing hats, and their forms continue to intrigue me still. Emma Yeo has already won Emerging Designer of the Year 2012 Global Fashion Award (WGSN) and I'm really excited to see where her inspiration will take her work next.