Can you believe that it’s been two years since Kate Middleton walked down the aisle in her handmade lace Sarah Burton dress and married prince charming? I remember waking up at the crack of dawn so I didn’t miss the debut of the wedding dress that had women from all over the world on the edge of their seats! That picturesque Grace Kelly inspired gown will forever be the standard by which all other wedding dresses are judged.
However, there was something else - something even more fabulous - that I will always remember. The frou frou and almost wacky headpieces that the royal family wore loud and proud. Princess Beatrice and her now infamous “Teletubby hat” was one of the most photographed images of the day. In less than 24 hours, Beatrice’s fascinator was made into a meme, blogged by every fashion journalist, and left women the world over intrigued by her unusual accessory.
Now fascinators are nothing new in the circles of British royalty and socialites. In fact, these fancy head ornaments are worn at very posh events like weddings, garden parties and the famous horse races. Every English woman knows that she cannot just wear a fascinator; she must follow fascinator etiquette. First, it must be worn with a tilt at the side of the head, and angled toward the front or perched above the brow. Second, it must always stay on your head until the end of the event, and finally, it must not obstruct the view of the person sitting behind or beside you. Just like a crown, these pieces are worn with responsibility and pride.
It became clear that I was starting to become fascinated by fascinators, and the more I learned, the more I fell in love with their eccentric charm. I realized that there was only one designer that made these pieces a true work of art. His name is Philip Treacy. He is basically the Louis Vuitton of hats. In fact, 30 of his one-of-a-kind fascinators were worn at the royal wedding, like Beatrice’s famous “Teletubby Hat” which was auctioned off on eBay for over $150,000. Now that’s just fascinating! These famed Philip Treacy fascinators were worn by: Isabella Blow, Grace Jones and Lady Gaga.
It’s amazing how these pieces can turn an outfit into a work of art. It’s an avant-guard look that can be considered an acquired taste. But fashion is supposed to provoke emotions and turn heads. So it’s safe to say that you’ll always look twice at a woman wearing a beautiful headpiece. If you’re interested in learning more about the fascinating world of fascinators, or simply want to make one yourself, then signup for one of our fun and fabulous hat making workshops, and make yourself something that will leave Kate Middleton wishing she'd made one herself, too!
