The popular and raunchy franchise is back – yes, Fifty Shades of Grey now has it’s sequel released in cinemas called ‘Fifty Shades Darker’. Amidst the excitement (especially for us) is the Masked Ball scene, aptly named ‘The Masquerade Ball’ which takes place in the mansion of the Grey family.
The famous mask as worn by Anastasia Steele is a silver lace, dotted with crystals. You can buy our metal version of her mask here which is exactly the same shape and style:-
Elegant, sheer and lightweight, this silver filigree mask is suitable for most face shapes and looks stunning in the light. However, if you love this shape of mask but are not a fan of silver, then we also stock it in black & gold
As for Christian Grey… well we have a number of masks which would be perfect and all made by us from genuine veg tanned leather. For a fuller coverage, we have a classic Venetian Leather Columbina (far left) which is flexible, suitable for all face shapes and has a soft suede inner against the face.
If you prefer less coverage, then we have slim leather eye mask which is also made by us from genuine leather and is comfortable and soft to wear. (left)
Or, an even narrower eye mask can be found here (right)
We also found an amazing video with 360 degree view of the masked ball so you can fully immerse yourself into the scene and explore all the amazing masks worn for the special event. Visit the link to view the video….
Does the party come before the mask, or the mask before the party?
Masks are synonymous with masked costume Balls and the Venetian Carnivale, yet some people love to buy masks just as decorative ornaments or for an event that isn’t your typical costume ball. If you love the drama, mystery and elegance that a mask brings to mind and need an excuse to wear one, why not host your own masquerade event?
We’ve racked our brains to come up with some alternative masquerade party ideas for you that break away from the norm and offer something that’s both exciting and novel for your guests. The following lend themselves really well to a masked event and are from a world class provider of murder mysteries.
Red Herring Games is an international supplier of murder mystery games with their kits offering a no fun: no fee guarantee. What better excuse to wear your mask than at a murder mystery where everyone is playing someone else, and nobody is who they appear…
So these are our top two picks… although they do have over 70 titles to choose from – any of which could become a masked event with a little license…
Mardi Gras Masquerade Murder – is set in New Orleans at the time of their big Mardi Gras celebrations. Fortunately you don’t have to wait for Mardi Gras to play! Available all year round, this murder mystery dinner party can play out in your own home over a three course meal, or you can use the large group script version of the same murder mystery game to entertain up to 100 people at a bigger masked ball.
Masks have long been associated with the burlesque world and we certainly have some gems in our collection that would suit a corset-wearing tease.
Based on real burlesque dancers (with their permission of course) this murder mystery kit is perfect for hen parties or all girl socials, giving you a real excuse to let your hair down (or put it up) and don a mysterious but tempting mask as part of your new persona.
Murder mystery games make great excuses for fundraisers, and what better way to have a spectacular excuse for wearing your mask? If you want to host a masked ball event and think either of these murder mysteries would be a great excuse, then why not contact us to discuss your mask requirements.
We are linked to a number of wholesalers and will be able to provide you with a bulk discount on cheaper low-cost “off the peg” masks for your event if you wish to supply your guests directly. Or, we can offer special discount for your event in the way of a discount code, allowing your guests to choose their own from our unique handmade and exclusive collection.
If you choose to go with a particular murder mystery theme and want masks to match, then we can customise these for you with no design fee.
Recently I was commissioned to make a range of masquerade masks with a Flag theme – including countries as Brazil, China, United Kingdom, USA, Canada and of course, Nigeria.
I started to produce the main bases which were all hand-painted with multiple coats of paint (see image to the left) and then added decorations such as feathers, glitter etc to enhance their interest as they were for a photo-shoot and needed to stand out on camera. The British Flag mask was adorned with large ostrich feathers at the top, glitter on the red cross with pearl rhinestones and a royal blue rhinestone at the top. The China Mask had gorgeous red ostrich flu added to the side with a huge gold flower and gold glittery starts to the side. Lastly, the Nigeria Mask had a white trim, green glitter and a mix of green & white feathers added at the top to make this simple flag mask sparkle.
The images below are the final shots from the My Green Gene photoshoot which are now shown on their website, promoting their latest awards event. I think they look fabulous, do you?
My Green Gene is amotivational and educative heritage magazine which celebrates the role models of Nigeria Heritage home and Diaspora and is showcasing its night of recognition of individuals, groups and organisations of Nigerian Heritage at the GPLUS awards on Sunday, August 7,2016.
The awards ceremony is held in the city of Manchester, UK, at IWM North The Quays Trafford Wharf Road Manchester M17 1TZ and will play host to the maiden edition of The GPLUS AWARDS. Event starts at 5pm while Red carpet starts at 5:30pm.
Other projects in the pipeline are: The GBLOOD CARNIVAL; aimed at celebrating Nigeria’s independence, MYGREENE GENE RESOURCE CENTRE (ONLINE) plus an Interactive centre; This would serve and a one stop information reservoir on the Nigerian heritage plus MY GREEN GENE HOUR ON CNN which will showcase interviews and documentaries on achievers and achievements of Nigerians.
Get your tickets to this amazing event that will showcase culture and entertainment from the heart of GIANT of AFRICA.
Turning 16 is one of those special moments in a girl’s life – especially in the USA where a Sweet 16 is an important coming of age event.
One of the most popular themes for a Sweet 16 is the ‘Masquerade’, which can cover anything from a Traditional Venetian Masquerade to a very modern affair. Whichever theme you have chosen for your party, you will want that special mask to go with your special dress.
Here at Masque Boutique, we pride ourselves on being able to create beautiful unique masks to match your dress – with no design fee and working to your budget*.
We can customise styles that are already on our website by changing colours, adding feathers or mix and matching pieces from one mask onto another. Or, we can create something completely unique and extravagent embellished with Swarovski crystals, pearls, diamante and vintage jewellery pieces.
If you want masks for your family, we can create these too!
Choosing the Mask Basics – Size & Colour
You may already know the sort of mask you want to wear and just need it colour matching. If you have a specific colour in mind, we can send out samples of colours to ensure it is going to work first. Allow 1-2 weeks for these to arrive from the UK. We try to ensure the colours on screen are as close to the original as possible, but sometimes the camera and screen may alter colours so they could be lighter/darker than shown.
Size wise – the majority of young women will want to go for a mask that is more petite in size than our standard masks. We generally have 3 styles of petite masks that we can swap with our standard bases if required. These are suitable for slimmer face shapes. If you have a wide or rounder face then a standard mask would be better. Have a look at our ready to order petite mask section for ideas on the shapes available.
Prefer a mask on a stick? That’s ok because all of our masks can be put on a stick via the website or on request.
Matching the mask to your dress
Please send us a picture of dress (either via a web link or a clear image that shows the detail and correct colour) and your budget and an idea of the mask shape/style you are wanting (choose one from our website) and we can help design one that compliments your dress.
The dress on the left was one we recently made a mask for. The skirt was a peach/beige colour and the top was a heavy embellished mix of silver & gold beads with crystals. The mask we made was a wider shape mask with a beaded silver leaf painted base, which was covered in freshwater pearls, Swarovski crystals, diamante stones and had a side of beige gold ostrich feathers, gold veiling and a large diamante decoration. (something like this would start at £150 GBP but we can make similar masks with less decorations for a smaller budget)
Why not look at some of our ready made One of a Kind masks that noone else will have and are ready to ship. You can also add sticks to these masks!
Please contact us at info@masqueboutique.co.uk if you would like to discuss having a Sweet 16 Mask made.
As the dark Winter nights begin to get lighter, the leftover Christmas treats have all been eaten and you think all the celebrating has been done….. well don’t forget Valentines Day!
My first ever experience of a Masquerade was actually on Valentines day in London many many years ago. My housemate had invited me and as masks weren’t widely available in those days (I’m not that old – honestly!), I decided to make my own. At the time, I worked in Stained Glass Conservation and used my creative skills to put together (what turned out to be a very heavy mask!) a card creation which had lots of copper wire coming out of the top which was wrapped around different copper-foiled coloured glass.
So for those who like to celebrate this romantic day, what better way than to attend a Valentines Masquerade Ball. Perfect for couples, first dates and singles – the masquerade lends itself to an air of mystery, intrigue and excitement.
Aside from the dress, the most important item you need to choose is the mask. A Valentines Ball is all about elegance and romance and this should be portrayed in your mask.
Personally I love the colour red with this theme. Either as a dress (there are some stunning dresses out there in this colour) or, on the mask. Black & red works perfectly – as does silver and red.
Here are a few ideas that could work as your Valentines Mask:-
If you are looking at attending a Valentines Masquerade Ball, then have a look at a few of these events for 2016:-
The popular and raunchy franchise is back – yes, Fifty Shades of Grey now has it’s sequel released in cinemas called ‘Fifty Shades Darker’. Amidst the excitement (especially for us) is the Masked Ball scene, aptly named ‘The Masquerade Ball’ which takes place in the mansion of the Grey family.
As for Christian Grey… well we have a number of masks which would be perfect and all made by us from genuine veg
tanned leather. For a fuller coverage, we have a classic Venetian Leather Columbina (far left) which is flexible, suitable for all face shapes and has a soft suede inner against the face.
genuine leather and
is comfortable and soft to wear. (left)
Mardi Gras Masquerade Murder
girls only.
Recently I was commissioned to make a range of masquerade masks with a Flag theme – including countries as Brazil, China, United Kingdom, USA, Canada and of course, Nigeria.
My Green Gene is a
motivational and educative heritage magazine which celebrates the role models of Nigeria Heritage home and Diaspora and is showcasing its night of recognition of individuals, groups and organisations of Nigerian Heritage at the GPLUS awards on Sunday, August 7,2016.
