With our Mad Men month sneaking up on us, we’re totally in love with the new Fascinator trend. These small little feathery, fun hats have us all atwitter!

The Fascinator also know as the Cocktail Hat (could that be more perfect for a Femme?!) got it start back with the original Femme Marie Antoinette when she had a influential affect on fashion of the day. She and her fellow French fashionistas were very fond of prestige and beauty, also a little bit of attention thus creating a lust for over the top and shall we say creative new ways to decorate and adorn their heads.

In these creative head fashions you could find fruit, butterflies, jewels, lace, feathers, or really anything imaginable although the trend did not continue due to  financial mis-followings and trends. Possibly the fact that Ms Antoinette lost her head may have had a bit to do with it by my guess. Fascinators evolved as a replacement for the hat throughout the 18th century and beyond, carrying through to era of the flapper, the hat and its elaborateness subsequently relating to wealth and class. In 1957 the death of Christian Dior was influential in the feminist fashion movement. For the first time women were going without hats, fascinators, or anything of the sort although in 1960′s Jackie Kennedy so eloquently wore the pill box hat reviving the trend.

Fascinators have made a resurgence as of late due to Mad Men and the infamous Royal Wedding. The fascinators were out in rare form for the Royal Wedding. Kate Middleton is often seen wearing a fascinator as is Sarah Jessica Parker. Philip Treacy is the man behind almost every famous fascinator that you see today. This amazing milliner has done amazing things with so many fun things that Marie Antoinette would surely be proud as well as keep him all to herself so we should be glad!

I personally have fallen head over heals in love with this trend and with Mad Men classes coming up you can take a guess at what I’ll be having fun with all through out the month! Hope to see you at our classes with your fascinators on and coupe in hand!

Les Bises,