Even for those of us who are not too invested in the lives of the British Royals, it would have been hard to miss the elaborate headgear on display at Prince Harry’s and Meghan Markle’s wedding. Frilled bonnets, picture hats, wide-brimmed hats and gold fascinators adorned the heads of the high and mighty and continued a centuries-old tradition of exuberant headgear for high-profile royal events.
Fascinators are tiny, elaborate hats that are clipped to the wearer’s head. These accessories act as a powerful fashion statement and even though they remain the staple of the royals, they continue to fascinate the rest of us nevertheless. For instance, did you know that Princess Beatrice’s iconic fascinator that she debuted at the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011 eventually auctioned off on eBay for a prince’s ransom of $130,000?
You don’t have to wait for the next royal wedding to don your favorite fascinator. You can wear one on race day, high teas, weddings and formal occasions. Here’s how to properly wear a fascinator.
How to wear a fascinator
There’s quite a bit of creative license when it comes to how a fascinator can be worn. Fascinators though usually look best when worn immediately above the eyebrow with a veil attachment just above the eyes. A fascinator can also be worn as a tiara or shifted towards the rear of the head if the woman is rocking an updo, curled or chignon hairstyle.
How to style a fascinator
Below are some basic fascinator styling guidelines:
• Ensure the fascinator is in proportion with your head, hairstyle and body. Avoid dainty fascinators if you already have plenty of hair but instead compliment it with a larger fascinator
• It’s best to maintain a simple hairstyle to keep it from detracting attention from the fascinator. A simple ponytail or a slick-backed hairstyle is a good choice.
• Keep it classy and stylish. Donning enormous peacock feathers in a bid to stand out might be going over the top.
• Match the metallic accents in your fascinator with accessories like shoes, clutch or jewelry. For instance, gold fascinators go well with gold jewelry.
etiquette
It’s important to be courteous and gracious whenever you wear your fascinator. Avoid wearing the accessory to movie theaters, stadium seating or symphonies to avoid blocking other people’s view.
Bottom-line
There are fascinators for every woman—whether you want to add a touch of glamour to your outfit or simply make a fashion statement. So, if you have been thinking that they don’t fit you, it is high time you changed that mindset because probably you have not tried the right style.