A UK shop for fascinators hatinators and wedding hats.

Browse our selection of gorgeous fascinators, simply select the colour you are looking for and view our fantastic colour range.

SHOP

FINDING THE RIGHT FASCINATOR

If you have a big event coming up, or have been invited to one as a guest, then it may be appropriate to turn up in some fancy headwear for the occasion. Such events include Weddings and Christenings, and of course that big day at the races, where its customary to wear an exquisite occasion hat or flamboyant fascinator. In this guide we will try to give an opinion on the best practices when it comes to your choice of headwear.

WHAT IS A FASCINATOR?

Essentially a fascinator is a decorative headwear accessory, usually made of a light fabric, unlike crowns and tiaras. Fascinators go along way back in history through the ages and would be more commonly worn by the wealthy or royalty. But in modern days fascinators are worn more and more frequently by many women. Influential figures such as princess Beatrice and the duchess of Cambridge have often been snapped by paparazzi in some stunning and elaborate designs.

HOW TO WEAR A FASCINATOR WITH A CLIP

Clip in designs are a popular choice, the main reason for this is the versatility, you can clip it basically anywhere theirs’s hair! Another great feature of clip in fascinators is that you won’t have to worry about concealing a band, which is sometimes the deal breaker. The main drawback to clip in fascinators is that you may need to stick with smaller and lighter designs, as and heavy accessory may need a little more support, especially on a windy day.

HOW TO WEAR A HEADBAND FASCINATOR

For fascinators made with a headband (or Alice band as I call them) you have the advantage of greater support, so it’s much sturdier when wearing a larger piece. Headbands come in different thicknesses so you can make a choice between comfort and the ability to disguise the band within your hair, which is much easier with a narrow band. The band is generally the same colour as the fascinator but does not have to be the case.

COMB FASCINATORS

Comb fascinators are an excellent choice it you are looking to serve a double purpose; you can use the fascinator as a functioning hair comb slide to hold your style also. Comb designs are sometimes a little trickier to fit as you will need to incorporate it into your hairstyle, so if your hair has been specially styled for the day, you wont want to be putting it in and out throughout the day.

SHOULD A FASCINATOR MATCH THE BAG AND SHOES OR THE DRESS

Well there’s no right or wrong answer to this one, but I would say if you are going to wear shoes that contrast your dress then it is a nice touch to match a bag and fascinator with the shoes to really capture the contrasting tones. However, its also a very common theme to match your fascinator to your dress, both styles can work perfectly.

WHICH SIDE OF THE HEAD SHOULD YOU WEAR A FASCINATOR?

Well there’s no rules here, its completely your choice and neither option is considered the standard, but I will say from experience we have noticed more people tend to wear them towards the right of that head than the left, but there’s no clear winner here. It is also common with some styles to wear them centrally, this usually applies to bigger fascinators, and one good reason for that is because having a particularly large fascinator offset to one side may come loose under its own weight. The bottom line is, the best approach to use is just trying it on and moving it around until you find that sweet spot that flatters your look.

HAIR COLOUR

Not only should you consider your outfit colour when choosing a fascinator but also your hair colour, for instance redheads often look great in a stylish green fascinator and blonds tend to suit colours like lilac. Dark Hair can work with many colours, but should avoid black fascinators and dark tones as they will blend in too much.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF FASCINATOR

HATINATORS

One of the more modern types of fascinator is the Hatinator, which is relatively new to millinery (the term used for hat making). Hatinators are unsurprisingly a combination of a hat and a fascinator, they look more like a hat, but are embellished flamboyantly like a fascinator and are fitting in the same way as a fascinator, not simply rested on the head like a hat traditionally would be.

PILLBOX

Pillbox fascinators are an extremely popular choice and consist of a pillbox shape base with upright sides and a flat top, traditionally they tended to be quite plain, but modern pillbox designs are heavily embellished usually with mesh flowers or feathers, and netting which can drape over the design and partially cover the face.

BIRDCAGE FASCINATORS

Birdcage fascinators are quite obviously named for their netting that gives a cage like appearance. These are a very popular choice at funerals, one good reason for this is that the net can distract from or obscure the face, which can be quite appropriate at a funeral when one might shed a few tears.

FASCINATORS FOR SHORT HAIR

If you’re looking for the best fascinators for short hair, you’ll want to keep a few things in mind. First, small fascinators are generally more flattering on shorter hair. Second, comb and clip-on styles are usually easier to wear with shorter hair than headband styles. See our popular small flower pink clip fascinators.

For a small but eye-catching fascinator, try a mini single flower style. These floral designs sit atop the head and are typically decorated with feathers or netting. If you prefer a comb style, look for one with small teeth that can grip short hair. Clip-on fascinators are also a good option for short hair; just be sure to position the clip at the crown of the head for maximum stability. And finally, it’s important to choose a fascinator that complements the shape of your face. If you have a heart-shaped face, look for a fascinator with soft curves to balance out your features. Whatever style you choose, make sure it makes you feel confident and fabulous!

FASCINATORS FOR LONG HAIR

Well its quite the opposite case here, in our opinion the best fascinators for long hair tend to be a little bigger as to keep proportion, a small fascinator can feel a bit underwhelming in long hair. Alice band fascinators are a great choice here, for one if you choose a larger design an hairband will give good support, not only this but long hair is great for concealing the band, should you wish to. Also the band can serve its practical function of holding the hair back from your face.