Saturday, December 10, 2011

Fascinating!

Why are fascinators so fascinating? 

A form of a headpiece, designed to be worn in lieu of a hat, the increasing popularity of fascinators became most apparent at the recent royal wedding. Time Magazine reported that "the millions watching the April 29th Royal Wedding on television cared less about Prince Williams' suit and Kate Middleton's dress than they did the hats atop the attendees heads..." The public was especially intrigued by royal wedding guest Princess Beatrice's outrageous fascinator which spawned its own Facebook fan page.  As further evidence of the fascination with fascinators, Lady GaGa was recently spotted sporting a hot pink one.
 
Fascinators were largely worn by royalty, especially during the reign of Louis XVI.  Then, in the 1970's, master milliners Stephen Jones and Philip Treacy began designing and popularizing them.  In fact Philip Treacy designed the famous Princess Beatrice fascinator.

We're fascinated with fascinators because they add drama, whimsy and style and elevate an outfit to a whole new level. We're fascinated with fascinators because they are like wearing mini works of art.

And we are especially fascinated with the creations made by a local designer here in SW Florida. The company is called Dixie's Daughter and in addition to fascinators, the line extends to clothing and accessories as well.  The fascinators range in price, starting at $75.00, based upon materials and complexity of design.

Here are some of our favorite styles:






We spoke with the designer behind Dixie's Daughter and she gave us some insight into her artistic process: "I choose a base to build on: velvet, silk, tulle, leather, for instance, and layer different elements: sparkling, velvety, shiny, smooth; mixing colors to achieve the perfect effect," she explained. 

"The result I look for is an eye-catching, constantly-changing, and unique work that captivates and charms.  I want to create drama, make the wearer irresistible to watch.  That's the definition of 'fascinator,' isn't it?" 

To order a fascinator from Dixie's Daughter, contact dixiesdaughter@aol.com.

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