subject: A Brief History of the Fascinator [print this page] A Brief History of the Fascinator A Brief History of the Fascinator
From its origins in the ostentatious court scene of the 17th century to its recent revival in modern haute couture the fascinator has had a long and colourful history. The recent resurgence may be partly down to such trend-setters as the British Royal Family and high profile actresses such as Sarah Jessica Parker and Drew Barrymore. It is now a commonplace to see fascinators taking over from occasion hats at events and weddings a trend which is hardly surprising considering their current cachet, affordability and practicality.
A courtier's riposte
Although feathers have been worn in the hair since time immemorial and across a multitude of cultures (the Red Indian headdress for example), it would seem that the 17th century holds the true origin of the fascinator.
At this time, it was the fashion amongst courtiers to wear quite enormous powdered wigs. The size of a courtier's wig was almost synonymous with their social standing. It became the trend to adorn these already sizable constructions with elaborate ornaments ranging from whole stuffed birds to intricate models of ships. This is perhaps the true origin of the modern day fascinator.
A ruffle of feathers
In the intervening years the fascinator generally became more modest. Although, there were some stylistic extremes that threatened to rival the excesses of the 17th century most notably in the early 20th century. The more typical austere approach was partly a product of difficult times e.g. global recession and world wars during which lurid displays of wealth were increasingly frowned upon.
If the fascinator reached its zenith in the 17th century, in terms of both favour and altitude, then the late 20th century may have marked its nadir; at which point the fascinator had become something of an endangered species.
La renaissance
Soon-to-be Princess Kate epitomises the modern attachment to the fascinator in all its charms. And like some of her famous compatriots, her approach is to respect the historic trend of subtlety. On the other hand, perhaps the recent move toward substantial' fascinators observed at the more illustrious Ladies Days harks back to the frivolity of the 17th century. One could perhaps comment that the more desperate courtiers can once again be seen vying for favour by placing more and more elaborate and sizable displays of feathers, flowers and beads atop their heads.
In more general terms, it seems that the fascinator is now eclipsing the occasion hat at weddings and red carpet events. This is wholly unsurprising considering the greater affordability and practicality offered by the fascinator. The former is aided greatly by the fact that because sizing is rarely an issue the prospective purchaser can take advantage of the more competitive prices offered by online retailers.
