A New Hat Era Is Upon Us - Be On The Lookout

Hats made a comeback in 2011. Thanks in large part to Kate Middleton, the new Duchess of Cambridge, hats of all shapes and sizes have topped the lists of international stylemakers.

As a fitting end to the Year of the Hat, a new line of headwear has just launched, brought to the U.S. by Brit-American hybrid, Katie Chamberlain. Fascinators, like Chamberlain, are also a hybrid and lie somewhere between hat and headband. Usually, fascinators are adorned with all manner of accoutrements, from sparkles to ostrich feathers. And the overall effect is, in a word, fascinating.

“I’m interested in putting a contemporary, urban twist on the classical,” says Chamberlain of her latest collection. “They’re like a little wearable fantasy, except that they’re utterly practical.” The fun part, according to Chamberlain, is that you can wear them just about anywhere, day to evening, office to cocktails.

But how do you wear a fascinator? Chamberlain has a few tips to help you rock a fascinator like a pro, or a royal, depending on your style.

 --Hidden headband attachments keep the fascinator situated comfortably on the head, and snuggly in place, even while dancing the night away.

--Veils are versatile. To reshape the veil, run a blow dryer lightly over the fabric to warm the fabric and pull slightly to shape. The veil should be worn over the face but can also be tucked behind the ear to keep out of the way.

--The tip of the teardrop style bases should be worn with the tip in the front.

--The headband guides the placement of the piece on your head so you don’t have to worry about angling; it sits exactly where it should when you put in on.

 Katie Chamberlain’s current line of fascinators and other standout accessories are available on her website. Look for her to launch a fascinating new collection in early 2012.

 

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