Fascinators are the modern, on-trend alternative to hats. They are often avoided because people are not confident enough to wear them or think that the occasion is not formal enough, but actually, they make a really good addition to many different outfits for a range of occasions. You will see them at many different events, including Royal Weddings, Ascot and formal dining events on cruise ships.
Hats fall under the millinery umbrella, and so do fascinators. They are considered a headpiece and are designed for fairly formal events like weddings. Made by the same type of craftsman, fascinators are decorative headpieces, usually with fabric and embellishments, such as feathers and beads, that are worn in the hair either using a headband, comb or clip. Fascinators range from simple designs to over-the-top, ornate statement pieces, depending on the event and reason for wearing it. They really have become a must-have accessory for the races, weddings and other events.
How to wear a fascinator?
Fascinators can be attached to the hair using different methods, catering to various hair styles. Comb fascinators are ideal for those with thicker hair, providing a secure grip, whereas headband fascinators are suitable for almost any hair type, including short hair and very short hair, offering a discreet and elegant option.
Hair fascinators and hair accessories are essential for formal events like Royal Ascot, weddings, and other significant occasions, complementing different outfits and adding a touch of sophistication. Whether you choose a large fascinator for a grand statement or a medium-sized fascinator for a more subtle look, the fascinator style plays a significant role in enhancing your overall appearance for any event.
The tradition and etiquette of wearing fascinators, transitioning from wearing hats to fascinators, highlight modern elegance and sophistication. This shift reflects a preference for the versatility and style that fascinators bring to formal attire.
How to choose the right fascinator?
Choosing the right fascinator style and color is crucial, especially considering your hair color and style. For those with blond hair, gold and silver fascinators can enhance your look, while individuals with darker hair might opt for brighter colors like red or hot pink to ensure the fascinator pops.
Bridal Fascinators
Although brides traditionally have a veil and sometimes a tiara, the bridal fascinator is becoming a popular choice for many alternative weddings. Bridal fascinators can be created in traditional wedding material, such as lace, silk and satin in cream, Ivory, or white, and are often trimmed with nothing or birdcage veils. The embellishments for bridal fascinators tend to include diamantes, rhinestones and Swarovski crystals.
What are Fascinators Made From
Silk and satin are the most common fabrics for your fascinator design, and many have lace included as well. The shape and form compete created in many ways and depend largely on how the milliner prefers to work. There could be wire holding the sculpting, and this will be overlaid with the material and embellishments. Crinoline is also a popular fascinator material; depending on the design of the fascinator, it may begin life in a similar way to a hat being moulded on a hat block. Once the basic design is complete, the craftsman will then begin to add embellishment with feathers, decorative loops, flowers, and crystals, all being popular for different styles of fascinators.
What are the different types of styles of fascinators?
Fascinators can be considered to offer a more secure hair accessory than a hat, which generally just sits on top of the head. In contrast, the fascinator is attached to the hair using either a hair comb, a hair clip, or on a headband. The best way to attach it to your hair will depend a lot on your hairstyle, the thickness of your hair and the weight of the fascinator. If you have fine hair, you may find a headband is a perfect way to ensure your fascinator stays in place; updos work quite well with a fascinator clip, as there is plenty of hair piled up to gain good purchase, and hair combs fascinators are generally best suited for those who have thicker hair, so it grips well and does not fall out.
Headband Fascinators
Using either a fabric, headband or, more commonly, an Alice band, which is often covered in satin fabric in a similar colour to the design, it’s a great way to wear a fascinator. The Alice band tends to be very narrow, so it can easily be hidden in the hairstyle while at the same time being easy to pop on and off. It offers a decent amount of grip, so should you find the weather a little breezy, your fascinator should stay in place perfectly and not fall off.
Clip-in Fascinators
Some milliners will use an alligator clip, whereas others prefer a beak-style hair clip, but no matter which they opt for clip-in fascinator is a great way to secure your accessory and make sure it doesn’t fly off at an inconvenient moment. If the fascinator design is fairly large, a clip may not be stable enough to hold it, in which case the headband design is better, but for medium-sized and small fascinators, a clip is really easy to pop in or out and can be hidden well in your hairstyle, creating the perfect.
Comb Fixed Fascinators
Hair combs do need quite a lot of purchase in the hair, so they tend to be best used on thick hair or updos where your hair is piled densely. They can also be used by hairstylists to form part of the hairdo itself, keeping sections in place. More often than not, the comb will either be clear and transparent or matched to the colour of the fascinator so it doesn’t look out of place in any way.
It’s always worth trying on fascinators with all of the attachments to see which works best for your hair before making your purchase.
How Should a Fascinator Be Worn?
The strictest of etiquettes would dictate that fascinators are worn on the right side of your head; however, generally, there are no hard and fast rules, and either side is acceptable. It is thought that the right-side dates back to when it was also etiquette for men to walk on the left side of their partner, and therefore having the fascinator on the opposite side meant it wouldn’t get in the way, and he would be able to enjoy seeing her face without any obstructions. In modern society, we tend just to go for personal choice.
Most people place the fascinator at a jaunty angle on either side of the head, especially when they are on a clip, as this gives you total flexibility. A fascinator on a comb will need to fit in with your hairstyle, but again it tends to be over to one side rather than in the middle of. If you go for the option of having your fascinator attached to a headband, you will also find, in many cases, it can be slid up or down so that you can see what works best with your outfit and hairstyle. The best advice is to spend some time in front of the mirror with your fascinator and proposed hairstyle until you get to look you are hoping for.
How to Pick the Perfect Fascinator?
There is no real right or wrong when it comes to choosing a fascinator. Just a few helpful guidelines. If you’re a guest at a wedding, for example, upstaging, the bride is a big no-no, so keeping your fascinator medium to small size is probably better than turning up in a huge creation that makes everyone stare at you. On the other hand, if you are a bride, then a fascinator or tiara might be a perfect choice if you don’t want something as traditional as a veil.
The Colour options
The colour is totally up to you, but it needs to either match or complement your outfit. You could opt to wear the same colour, fascinator, shoes and bag that all tone well with your outfit, or you could simply wear a complementary colour. For example, a blue dress could be offset with a yellow fascinator, a pink outfit could work well with a black fascinator, or a navy dress would work well with a cream fascinator.
How to wear In your Hair
The next consideration Is your hair colour; a dark mane will ensure that bright colours, like red, purple, pink or green, really pop against your hairstyle. If you are a natural redhead or have ginger tones, you’re probably best off avoiding anything in the red spectrum, but equally, cream, nude and beige fascinators will really stand out against your hair. Blonde hair works well with gold and silver fascinators, so again, it’s all about finding the perfect colour for you.
The Weather
Of course, this leads us to take into consideration the season of your events and potential weather conditions. Summer weddings are possibly best suited to light-coloured fascinators, whereas autumn hues like browns and greens work really well in that season. It also helps you decide what type of fascinator because if the weather is likely to be wet and windy, you need to ensure a really secure fit, meaning that headbands and clips make a better choice than combs in this situation.
How to style your fascinator with your outfit?
The perfect fascinator for you also depends on the outfit you are planning to wear for the event. If you are attending the races and have killer heels and want to stand out from the crowd that a fascinator can help add even more height making you look really tall. If you have a plain dress, then an intricate fascinator can be a lovely contrast, and with a patterned outfit, something a little plain and understated would work well. Be careful of creating an overly busy look by having a complicated outfit with an intricate fascinator.
The Takeaway
Fascinators make an excellent accessory to any outfit and can be worn in a variety of ways to suit the wearer. There are no hard and fast rules, but attention should be given to the type of event and your role (never upstage a bride at a wedding, for example), as well as your outfit, hair colour, and other accessories you may be carrying. Fascinators come in a wide range of sizes, so you can make the perfect statement no matter where you are going.