Bigger than a barrette, modern fascinators are commonly made with feathers, flowers or beads. They need to be attached to the hair by a comb, headband or clip. They are particularly popular at premium horse-racing events, such as the Grand National, Kentucky Derby and the Melbourne Cup.
Designed by hat makers or milliners as they are known in the trade, a fascinator is a style of millinery used to create what is essentially a decorative headpiece made with a moulded and shaped fabric base which is then decorated with beads and feathers and attached to a headband, hair clip or comb so it can be worn on ...
John decided it was time for the fascinator to make a comeback. Instead of thinking about the headpiece in its original sense, however, he used the name to rebrand the petite cocktail hats that were known at the time as clip-hats or half-hats. The sexy new name helped the already-popular design become even trendier.
So, What is the Difference? The key differences between a fascinator and a hat are that fascinators only cover a part of the head and can be worn on the side of the head. Whereas hats cover the entirety of the head with a large brim.
No race-day look is complete without the right hat or fascinator.
Today, a fascinator is worn on occasions where hats are customary, sometimes serving as an evening accessory, when it may be called a cocktail hat. It is generally worn with fairly formal attire.
The slouch hat is an object strongly associated with Australian identity. The Army refers to the slouch hat by its official designation; Hat khaki fur felt (KFF) - to everyone else it is a 'Slouch Hat'. The word 'slouch' refers to the sloping brim.
If the wedding you're attending is a very formal occasion, a hat or fascinator is recommended and it should ideally match the colour of your dress or two-piece – whether it's the same shade or a complementary hue.
Should a fascinator match the dress? Whilst it is possible to build an outfit around a statement fascinator, it is often best to choose your dress first. This means you can pick a fascinator that matches or compliments the exact colour of the dress.
While you don't need to wear a hat for the races for most courses and occasions, if you're sitting in a Royal Enclosure, it is required that ladies must wear a hat or headpiece at all times. Dress codes for Royal Enclosures accept a headpiece with a solid base of at least 4 inches is permitted.
As long as you're able to securely fasten the fascinator to your head, how you style your hair is up to you. Just keep in mind that, traditionally, they're worn on the right-hand side. Go to a milliner who is experienced with special occasion headwear.
The real reason fancy British hats are called “fascinators”
Fascinators can be worn for the whole day. (And they don't give you Hat Hair!) Fascinators look lovely at both the service and at an evening reception.
If you have short hair and want to wear a fascinator we have a gorgeous collection of small fascinators featuring beak hair clips or headbands which are perfect for short hairstyles and they come in a big choice of colours and designs to suit all tastes.
Typically, headband-based fascinators are small enough to discreetly attach to the head, which you can wear by first pulling the hair away from the face. To hide the headband wire, your hair can be placed over the headband when you are styling it.
Wearing a fascinator to a wedding is always appropriate, unless the bride has specifically mentioned not to in the dress code. If you are uncertain about whether of not to wear a fascinator to a wedding, contact the bride and tell her you would like to, and if that is appropriate for her dress code.
Too casual
Even if you have been told the affair will be casual, shorts and t-shirt are never okay. Neither is denim or sweats. So avoid, avoid, avoid! It's not hard to throw on some slacks and a shirt, even if end up rolling the sleeves up after a while.
Steer clear of off-white, eggshell, beige, champagne, cream, or any other super light color that could be mistaken for white. There are so many dress options available in a variety of hues, so steering clear of these shades should not be a major issue.
Avoid sequined dresses and any clothing that will draw attention away from the bride. A wedding isn't the proper time to make a bold fashion statement. Ditch your everyday jeans and tee. Even if the wedding initiation says “casual”, wearing sneakers, t-shirts, shorts, and jeans are never appropriate for a wedding.
The distinctive Australian slouch hat, sometimes called an "Australian bush hat" or "digger hat", has one side of the brim turned up or pinned to the side of the hat with a Rising Sun Badge in order to allow a rifle to be slung over the shoulder.
Here's a breakdown of the Chef Hat system: 12-13 points: a good restaurant. 14-15 points: one hat, worth a stop (similar to one Michelin star) 16-17 points: two hats, worth a detour (similar to two Michelin stars) 18-19 points: three hats, worth a trip (similar to three Michelin stars)
Australian people have been wearing these hats throughout two world wars because they do the job. The company, that also produces a range of belts, bags and wallets, made a number of the slouch hats worn by the Aussie army in both world wars. They're an enduring and iconic symbol of the Australian people.