Featured Fascinators

Saw this on a blog from across the pond….seems the hat and fascinator rise is happening the world over!!! Long may it continue!!

BM

First we had The Royal Wedding, then the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala in NYC and lastly, the Kentucky Derby. And, the winner was definitely Hats and Fascinators.

There have been dozens of newspaper articles, blogs and TV interviews about the rising popularity of headwear. Everyone is saying that if Kate Middleton (now the Duchess of Cambridge) continues to wear hats then hat business will soar even more.

According to hat stores across the US and the UK, sales are up over last year. Over My Head, a hat boutique in Upper Arlington, Ohio, has seen an increase in demand for hats similar to the style worn by Middleton and wedding guests.

Hat trends are changing because of Middleton and the royal wedding, said Bethany Golden, owner of Over My Head.

Golden said her boutique saw an increase of almost 50 percent in sales from last year during the hat season, which includes the Kentucky Derby, Hat Day at the Franklin Park Conservatory and wedding season.

The hat style that is dominating now is the fascinator, worn by Middleton, Golden said. Fascinators are small hats or headbands worn on one side of the head, Golden said. They are often embellished with feathers, flowers or veiling.

“With a big hat, you see mostly hat (when a person is wearing it),” Golden said. “But with a fascinator, it kind of adds to you, versus getting covered up by a big hat.”

Golden said Over My Head sold four fascinators for every one regular hat this year. She said the boutique sold one fascinator in 2010 and has sold 38 in 2011.

Golden said she thinks the increase in demand comes from women wanting to wear Middleton’s style.

“With the popularity of the Royal Wedding and Kate Middleton, I think that femininity is starting to come back,” Golden said. “So you see dresses coming back, and you see headbands and flowers and hair adornments coming back. I think that’s all part of it.”

Golden said the majority of the fascinators in her store, which range in price from roughly $150 to $450, are made by Brenda Risacher, a local hat designer.

Golden said she thinks fascinators should become a fashion staple. “If Kate Middleton continues to wear hats, then I think we’ll see everyone else follow suit.”

Morning!

Six weeks and counting!

Having now got over the Royal Wedding rush and while still in the midst of the Bridal rush….I need to give a timely reminder to all you ladies out there that Royal Ascot is only a few short, sweet weeks away.

(I also have to remind myself to choose a dress and get on with my own hat! Some how I always wait to the last minute…mmmmm…….)

Talking of dresses…I have just been making some rather lovely headdresses to be worn with some really gorgeous Philip Armstong dresses…….dressmakers to all fabulous women….I rather like the nudes below…..

There are some totally fab frocks out there not to mention the shoes……so come on…get a wriggle on and don’t be the disappointed lady in the disappointing chapeau!

Just in case you need reminding…….Ladies Day June 16th!

Morning all….

Just wanted to add my mutterings to the world wide web about the totally fabulous marriage of Catherine and William. How perfect did Catherine look? I’m picky…..ask my friends….but she looked amazing….absolutely perfect…..beautiful girl. Big congratulations to Sarah Burton….job, extremely well done!

I was up early with my children making paper chains….when was the last time I did that?! Probably more years ago than I dare to think!

Then quickly put together a few red white and blue fascinators for the girls living on my street and a rather lovely embellishment on my son’s top hat!!

I wore red white and blue and a rather lovely red headdress…received many compliments about that at our street party!!

Would also like to mention and thank the British fashion industry for in the most part showing the world how its done!! I was totally loving seeing all the fabulous outfits and as for the hats…….!!! Special thanks to Mr Philip Treacy who I understand made around 40 hats for most of the Royals and high profile guests…..some absolute gems…..for me Zara Phillips….amazing…….!!!

I would like to thank all the ladies in the abbey wearing Beth Morgan…you know who you are…..! Thank you!! Really made my day…if it needed to be any more exciting…much jumping up and down in my house….made me feel in some way that I was there!!