How do I wear this thing?

What?

Tradionally, fascinators are gravity-defying miniature hats that perch on the side of the head. They’ve always been popular in England, where hats are standard fare at garden parties, weddings and the racetrack, and are just bursting onto the scene in the US. Most major designers included at least a few on their runway models this year.

A fascinator may have a small egg-shaped base that fits close to the head with feathers and flowers sprouting from it, or it may be simpler, as most of ours are, with feathers, netting and flowers attached to a comb, clip or headband. While the definition seems to get broader all the time, we like to think a true fascinator needs some flutter, with at least a few feathers or a cloud of netting that can waft in the breeze.

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Where?

Generally, a fascinator is worn on the side of the head, but it can tucked into an updo wherever it looks best. Brides tend to wear them in back, with or without a veil (giving everyone something to look at during the ceremony — way better than a big bow on your bum).

Most of the time, a fascinator’s feathers point skyward and veiling covers a bit of the face, but unless there’s a fabric base or a headband, there’s really no limit. We saw one of our creations worn on the runway recently with the feathers down and the veil up…and it still looked fabulous. 0142

How?

The most common way to attach a fascinator is with a comb. The trick is to tuck the comb into your hair against the grain: if your hair is pulled back, the teeth of the comb should point forward, toward your face. Counter-intuitive, yes, but very secure. gretchen_primping1

When wearing the hair loose, use the comb to sweep a section of the hair back and then push the comb forward or up into the strand.

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If you have fine hair, or just want to be sure everything stays put, a spritz of hairspray before you attach the fascinator will help keep it secure.

Because we make most of our items to order, it’s often possible to substitute a clip or even a headband, if that’s what works best for your hair.