A brief history of the Fascinator

From its origins in the swanky 17th century court scene to its recent revival in the modern haute couture the fascinator has had a long and colorful history. The recent resurgence may be partly due to trendsetters like the British royal family and high-profile actresses like Sarah Jessica Parker and Drew Barrymore. It is now commonplace to see fascinators replacing occasion hats at events and weddings, a trend that is not surprising considering its current stamp, affordability and practicality.

A runner’s response

Although feathers have been used in hair since time immemorial and in a multitude of cultures (the red Indian headdress, for example), it seems that the 17th century has the true origin of the fascinator.

At the time, it was fashionable among runners to wear rather huge powdered wigs. The size of a runner’s wig was almost synonymous with his social position. It became the trend to adorn these already considerable constructions with elaborate ornaments, ranging from stuffed birds to intricate ship models. This is perhaps the true origin of the modern fascinator.

A feather ruffle

In the intervening years, the fascinator generally became more modest. Although, there were some stylistic extremes that threatened to rival the excesses of the seventeenth century, especially in the early twentieth century. The more typical austere approach was in part a product of difficult times, for example the global recession and world wars, during which grisly displays of wealth were increasingly frowned upon.

If the fascinator reached its zenith in the 17th century, both in terms of favor and altitude, it is possible that the end of the 20th century marked its lowest point; by which time the fascinator had become a kind of endangered species.

The Renaissance

The future princess Kate personifies the modern attachment to the headdress in all her charms. And like some of his famous compatriots, his approach is to respect the historical trend of subtlety. On the other hand, perhaps the recent move towards “substantial” fascinators observed in the most illustrious Ladies Days dates back to the frivolity of the seventeenth century. Perhaps it could be commented that the most desperate runners can once again be seen vying for favor by placing ever more elaborate and sizable displays of feathers, flowers, and beads on their heads.

More generally, it appears that the headdress now overshadows the hat of the occasion at weddings and red carpet events. This is hardly surprising considering the greater affordability and practicality that the fascinator offers. The former is helpful in the fact that since size is rarely an issue, the prospective buyer can take advantage of the more competitive prices offered by online retailers.

Long live the revolution!