Hair accessories were made with practicality in mind to hold our hair together such as rubber bands, the scrungy, bobby pins and the headband. What were first bones and sticks used by cavemen to decorate their hair; billions of Homo sapiens and monkeys later, the world witnessed head accessories taking over precedence in the fashion arena.
Just like shoes and belts, headbands are now accessories which can make or break a look. When Sex and the City (SATC) was aired on HBO, killer heels and their designers were introduced on a grand scale – Manolo Blahnik, Christian Louboutin, and Jimmy Choo. And that is where, I reckon, Gossip Girl’s (GG) stylist, Eric Daman, decided to discontinue the trend by tweaking the style of GG in the hope to overrule SATC, “Instead of decorating the feet,” he probably said to himself, “let’s head for the hair!”
Just like how shoes fit any height of a lady and sizes of feet, headbands and accessories suit every and any hairstyle too. Take a look at Blair Waldorf, the main character from Gossip Girls (who carries the same name as her character in GG). She made headband and hair accessories such a hit in the fashion lane, the phenomenon is remarkable!
The ones with flowers
First they were freshly picked and tucked behind the ears. Daisies, mostly. After which, they found themselves plastic on a clip. Now flowers are on headbands, scrungies and pins in all sorts of sizes, colors, materials and species.
Drew Barrymore made her favorite flower, daisies, very famous once upon a time. But Blair Waldorf made flowers even more renowned in plastics. Kirsten Durst also hopped on the bandwagon and was spotted with a big mesh of black carnation. I say, too big, Durst, too big for your small head and small personality!
At the Dolce & Gabbana Make-up event during Milan Fashion Week, Scarlett Johansson, however, did it right with a black satin floral headband with her hair styled in a chignon. Classy Black Dahlia!
The ones with thick width
Australian actress, Racheal Taylor from Transformers, looked like a classic ballerina with her thick yet simple black headband. One cannot go wrong with thick width headbands just like how Jessica Alba did it in her casual getup.
MIscha Barton makes wearing one a mess, though, creating a deformity of style unity. Tiger print headband with orange and purple hue top? Too much to fight for attention!
The ones with feathers
She finally manages to make her hair accessories match her clothes and make-up this time. Mischa Barton looks fantabulous in feathers in comparison to other types of headbands that she was seen in.
One of the best things that could happen to our hair - being friends with feathers! From woodland creatures flock to a pluck of feather, it sure can bring style to a new flight. I cannot deny that I am tempted to stick one onto my asymmetrical bob. Would the feather have to match my heels, then?
Milla Jovovich and Drew Barrymore, on the other hand, make feathers so un-poultry! But then again, these style icons look fantabulous in everything they wear and don. As Emily Dickinson said in her poetry:
"Hope" is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul
And sings the tune without the words
And never stops - at all.
Feather hair accessories bring new style to our hair and drive an edge to hair accessories. New hope to boring hairstyle and for those who often suffer from bad hair days!
The ones with Jewels & Crystals
Crystals and jewels have always been one of those things that are often used as an embellishment to create life to something simple. From earrings to shoes and belts, crystals and jewels add soul to plain accessories. It can add chic to cheap even faster than you can say “ch”.
Paris Hilton’s crystals embedded on her cloth headband add shine to her simple pink outfit while Lauren Conrad, an American TV personality, made something so dull interesting. Kiera’s Knightly’s Swarovski jeweled encrusted headband worn over loose wavy curls reminds me of a princess who lives happily ever after.
The ones worn like Pocahontas
How! Rain dance would never be the same again with these revolutionized headbands! Taylor Swift looks ever so delicate and lady-like in the Pocahontas-like headband. This boho chic got the look so right it would put the Olsen’s twin to shame!
Salma Hayek gave a twist to this headband affair with an added Cleopatra edge. This beaded headpiece can change an entire look and outfit. Frida would be proud!
Do you need to have a wide forehead to wear a headpiece? I beg to differ. Placements and size of width synchronizes. If you have a wide forehead, thick or thin headbands are just as fine. But if you have a narrow forehead, a thick one would need a proper placement between band and forehead, giving an allowance from band to eyebrow, like how she has done it.
Chanel Iman, just like Mischa Barton, is addicted to headbands. Short dress + killer heels + bracelets are incomplete without headbands! This new IT model has been a muse for Karl Lagerfield, creative director for the brand Chanel.
The ones with Ribbons
Ah… the ribbons. I remember those pink satin ones my mother forced down my ponytail. I was never the girly kind when I was growing up so I have a kicking disposition to love how Victoria Beckham make wearing ribbons more stylish than girlish - unlike Blair Waldorf and Diana Vickers who are so sugar sweet in those ribbon headbands.
The ones like Scarves
Nicole Richie has her days of stylish and outlandish. And with that big white sunglasses and retro scarf, she is all ready to go for an afro fiesta. But not all scarves headbands make you look like a lost 1960’s hippie. Victoria Beckham, my style queen and mentor, did it right (as she always does). The long scarf of monochrome black and white that hangs all the way down to her waist, gives her black ensemble a touch of fun.
Eva Longoria keeps it safe and boring with printed scarf. I would rather her have her hair done with thick colored print headband with a hairdo of slight beehive to create more volume and oomph to the simple outfit.
The ones with Veils
Dum dum du dum… Dum dum du dum… Wedding bells are not ringing. The veil headband has been style inverted to improve mystery and divaesque. The traditional look of veil used by Drew Barrymore and Dita Von Teese are always matched with kohl eyes and red lipstick.
When they say old habits die hard, I wish that the veil would remain with dark eye make-up and red lips. It makes the mystery mysterious and the sexy ooh la la. Nude make-up underneath netting just says funerals, Jennifer Lopez from the block!
Nonetheless, perhaps there would be saving grace if the outfit speaks louder than the nude make-up? Perhaps dark eye make-up over nude lips and rosy bronze cheeks too.
The ones that shouldn’t be wearing one
I love Sarah Jessica Parker. I really do. I love her from Hocus Pocus back in the early 1990’s. And Sex and the City made me worship her even more. I am absolutely fond you, Carrie Bradshaw! Your wardrobe and heels are a must-have for me. I have watched reruns of all SATC series and your movies for 6 months straight!
Now that my fanatic testimonial has been made and clarified, I would like to go on saying, no matter how much I love you, SJP, the vase on your head is outrageous! Plus the color that matches your lime green dress just screams “Fashion Victim”. However, one mistake like this does not make you less stylish. I forgive you for this mockery the stylist brought upon you. P/S: Fire her right now!
Aretha Franklin, r-e-s-p-e-c-t yourself! What is with the oversize giant ribbon?! You look like you are ready to be packaged to Kenya! Let’s just hope that her voice is louder than that obnoxious ribbon.
Just because you are a sister of one of the most desirable women on Earth does not excuse you for making a fool out of yourself! Solange Knowles’enormous beige flower head accessory is lunatic.
Courtney Love who has always been known for her ugly, weird and unsophisticated style proves us right again with the feather headband which makes her look like Robin Hood’s accomplice. And that mess on her head, which she fondly refers to as hair, needs major make-over and styling. Or maybe Courtney Love has the touch opposite of Midas - anything on her and everyone around her just go bonkers? Rest in peace, Kurt Cobain. We still love you.
Amy Winehouse is another mess with her hair, tattoos, excessive eyeliner and those tight breasts squeezing dresses. While these things make her Amy Winehouse, she still definitely should get a whole new wardrobe and hire a group of decent stylist. pronto! Winehouse’s music is fantastic, I cannot deny, but I would just LISTEN to her. No more, no less. Attend her concert and I will be in sunglasses. Watching her getup can lead to a throw up.
Another regular fashion mishap would be the Olsen twins. Sometimes they dress up well but most often, one of them just mar each other’s name with dresses which are 3 sizes too big and headbands which don’t fit. Ashley Olsen’s tight headband which she squeezed all the way down her temple caused the mass of hair to fluff up. And that crimson lipstick does not match that boho look she wanted to achieve. Just make her look boo hoo…
Until the 1914 war, hair was always considered a woman’s crowning glory. So there is no excuse for wearing insane, queer things on your head. Avoid ridiculous things that make you look like an idiot. Don’t scar yourself for life.
Mirrors don’t lie.
