I was looking at the AW2023 couture collections and was really drawn to the bird headpieces at Thom Browne and Charles de Vilmorin. I’d already posted some bird print items a few months ago, but I thought I’d revisit the theme since it popped up again recently.

In the AW2023 couture collections also, Schiaparelli featured bird-shaped jewellery, and in 2021 Lady Gaga wore an oversized dove-shaped brooch by Daniel Roseberry for Schiaparelli.

Elsa Schiaparelli herself, who was associated with surrealists such as Salvador Dali and Jean Cocteau, often used buttons and accessories in the shape of birds – her favourite painting was Picasso’s “Birds in a Cage”, painted especially for her.

Alexander McQueen used birds and feathers in his SS2001 collection titled ‘VOSS’, named after a Norwegian town famous for its natural wildlife – the show featured designs celebrating nature.

Other brands using birds include Gucci, and the swallow motifs of Miu Miu…

…McQ and Rochas.

Speaking of Rochas, in 1934, Marcel Rochas had designed the bird dress, perhaps a bit of inspiration for the swan dress by Marjan Pejoski (you may know him for his brand KTZ) that Björk wore at the 73rd Academy Awards in 2001.

If you’re interested in your own bird-themed piece, here are some shopping ideas.