April 2011

The soon to be Princess Catherine Middleton was not the first person to don a chic cocktail hat or fascinator (although many are giving her credit for it), but she certainly thrust them into the spotlight.   Wearing a cute cocktail hat or petite fascinator isn’t just for the British though.   Donning a small hat is almost always appropriate, and a fantastic way to guarantee you’ll always look put together.  Think about it, add a well fitting cloche to your head during those blustery winter months, and instead of looking like a wind blown mess, all of a sudden you look chic and mysterious.  Throw on a pair of sunglasses to add to the movie star effect.    Adding hats into your wardrobe is easy; almost any hat will do, the trick is to keep them well fitted and proportionate to your size.  Sorry 5’1” ladies, save the wide, floppy brims for sipping margaritas pool side in Mexico.

An attention grabbing fascinator or hat can be made from almost anything.  What is a fascinator you ask?  It’s simply a small hair adornment made of almost anything from horsehair to French tulle or oversized silk flowers and is usually petite in nature.  Check out this bridal blog for a better explanation here.  You can purchase a chic fascinator or petite hat from almost any major retailer.  Try Forever 21 or H&M for a wide variety of headbands, flowers, and fascinators at inexpensive prices.  Don’t over look thrift store though.  Lots of big cities have tons of thrift, vintage, and consignment shops that are great places to search for a hat to add to a collection.  Prefer to make one of your own?  Grab those pretty silk flowers from the back of your closet and pin two or three in your hair, or add some feathers to the back of your favorite brooch or pin.  Don’t want to purchase a new hat?  Add some ribbon, flowers, or even a small cameo to the side of a hat you already have for an instant update.  A great source for hats?  Your boyfriend’s closet.   Add some pretty pieces to that fedora and feel instantly more beautiful.