With wedding season just around the corner, I’ve found myself scrambling to prepare for the momentous occasion that marks the union of two people. Cousins, friends, and acquaintances alike are getting hitched and it all seems to be happening this year. This could, ofcourse, have some linkage to the fact that we are all getting older and as time goes by, people begin to settle down, get married and all the rest of it. But quickly making the leap from a wedding-free summer to a wedding-fever summer has got my little feet hitting the pavement.
Only ever having attended two weddings, once as a flower girl and the other time as a bridesmaid, I have never had to worry about wedding garb as a guest. This year, however, I have two weddings to prepare for.
Aside from trudging around, in this less than ideal “Spring” weather, searching for two wedding-appropriate dresses, I have also resolved that I want to wear a hat. Wedding #1 is taking place in Great Britain, and by British wedding decorum, a head-piece of some sort is a must.
Everywhere I’ve looked, though, it appears that wide brims and trim have been eclipsed by the fascinator. It’s not news to anyone that the fascinator has captured the hearts of everyone who has been watching Kate Middleton in lime light over the last year. But are hats becoming an obsolete fashion statement? Or are fascinators a fad that will eventually give way, once again, to their big brother.
Among the few stores in Ottawa that do sell hats, I had difficulty finding one that wasn’t too loud or obnoxious. As an alternative, I timidly turned to the fascinator which felt more like a balancing act than a substitute chapeau. Kate Middleton can pull it off, but I definitely cannot.
To settle the debate as to whether or not a hat or fascinator would win me over, I looked to two of Britain’s greatest fashion muses. The then and now of two beautiful women, who always wore it best, Kate and Diana. Although fascinators weren’t even a thought in the days of Lady Di, there is something about the grace and elegance of a hat that secures my inclination to remain loyal to the tried and true style.
Love these photos! These hats are so regal and elegant. A true mark of a fine lady.
http://www.beilovebei.com
Munchkin/Walton, I have a strong sense that, in addition to remaining loyal to the tried and the true, you will also remain loyal to the British Crown.
But, I digress.
You are so right teeny, tiny and O so little munchkin person………while the fascinator is rather fascinating when worn by the right person, it does not possess those qualities that make a hat a hat.
Rather, the fascinator is a decoration for the head.
On the other hand, a hat chosen with great care for a particular occasion enhances the whole aura of the wearer.
So, while both the Fascinator and the Hat can be fascinating, only the Hat is capable of bestowing a certain je ne sais quoi upon the wearer.
Can you tell me the shops in Ottawa that carried fascinators? I need one and have trouble finding one. Thanks!
I am also looking for a hat or fascinator for a wedding in the UK… Any suggestions on where to look in Ottawa?