The crowning touch
Ingrid Hughs
Finding the right headpiece can be as difficult as finding the right man. But if you use the same skills you employed to eliminate ALL the Mr. Wrongs from your life — a keen eye for what complements your personality and style, the ability to know when something doesn’t work, and extreme patience — it can be done.
The first step is to match your headpiece with your facial features, hairstyle and gown. Take a close look at your features. Is your face long and narrow? Are your eyes wide-set? Do you want to wear something beaded in your hair, for example, that will pick up the beads of the dress?
Here’s a simple guide that will help ensure a love connection be-tween you and your headpiece.
Tiara
If you want to be Queen for a day, then there’s only one headpiece for you: the tiara. It can be exotic, dripping with diamonds and gemstones, or subdued with only crystals and beads. It wasn’t always a friend of the short, straight haired bride-to-be but today’s tiaras come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and complement a variety of hairstyles and budgets. In addition, according to one headpiece expert, a tiara helps hide a multitude of sins. “It draws attention away from the shape of the facial features,” he says. “So if a girl has a large nose or big eyes, the tiara’s pointed shape will break up that facial fullness.”
Pros: Timeless, the tiara can be passed down to your daughter. Colorful gemstones can add hues of color to a purely white ensemble. It’s great for women with strong features.
Cons: Won’t work with a braid or low chignon. Those hairstyles coupled with a tiara will pull the attention in opposite directions. Also, if you absolutely adore your square tortoise shell glasses, stay away from the tiara. This jeweled headpiece is the star of its own show and elaborate glasses take attention away.
Famous faux pas — It might have worked if she’d ditched the veiling, but with her short hair, round face and miles of tulle most of the fashion press agreed this was a major misstep in Diana, Princess of Wales’ wedding outfit.
Juliet Cap
A carved, structured cap that hugs the back of the head, this is a natural partner for short curly hair. A true chameleon, the Juliet cap takes on a completely different look when worn with a long flowing hairstyle or sophisticated up-swept coif. Paired with sparkly dangly earrings, the Juliet cap will make a short neck appear long and graceful.
Pros: Works well with short, curly hair, short neck. Elegant.
Cons: If your dress is beyond simple, the Juliet cap won’t make much of an impression.
Famous Juliet Cap Wearer: Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
Skullcap
This unstructured, brimless cap closely covers the crown of the head down to the middle of the forehead. Skullcaps are usually made of fabric or lace, though some styles are crocheted. If you already have a lot happening on your face — eyeglasses or a large nose — the skullcap won’t do you justice. If you have a long thin face, avoid the skullcap like you would a commitment phobic-man. Remember the one Celine Dion wore to her 1994 nuptials? Exactly.
Pro: If you choose to wear a skullcap, it will absorb any excess moisture you may secrete during your ceremony.
Cons: Don’t even think about taking it off after the wedding, because your hair will be matted to your head, giving you a wet cat look.
Headband
From the pew, most headbands today appear simple, but once you get on the reception line, the subtlety turns spectacular. Intricate designs punctuated with delicate jewels or elaborate beading is common. Consider the headband if you want to keep your hair away from your face or if you’re more into the delicacy and beauty of detailing. A long or short veil will work well with a headband, depending on the length of your hair. Bridal fashion experts agree, headbands are in. They have gone from fabric to metal and are super-popular.
Pros: Good for natural or loosely styled hair. Slims a full face. Wonderful for weddings where there will be lots of dancing. Works with several types of veils.
Cons: Tends to be vise-like to stay in place. Could be the first time you say, “Honey I have a headache,” after you’re newly married.
Hat
The good news with hats is that they come in all shapes and sizes — pillbox, wide brim, square, oval, tall — and each one complements a different facial structure while evoking a distinct mood. Now, if only the modern bride was wearing them. According to some experts, as lovely as they are, hats aren’t happening - they just haven’t been selling for the past five or six years. However they do make an occasional appearance on the bridal circuit.
Pros: They’re great for making the shape of your face something it isn’t. A long face will benefit from a full brimmed hat. A short, asymmetrical brim takes the eye away from a Dick Tracy jaw. And a hat with an angled brim will chisel down a round face, making it appear narrow.
Cons: Hats aren’t in style right now.
Famous Hat Wearer: Wallis Simpson wore an unconventional pink and feathered straw hat at her wedding to Edward, Duke of Windsor.
Wreath
This circular crown of flowers, feathers, leaves, and/or seed pearls can be large enough to encircle the head or small enough to frame a modest bun. This style is not recommended for short hairstyles and will tend to make the head look large.
Pros: Great for a bride on a budget. Complements long, naturally curly hair and a simple dress.
Cons: Beware of droopy flowers and a thorned wreath.
Tip: Try to budget in two identical headpieces designed by a professional florist. Wear one during the ceremony and keep the other in the refrigerator ready to swap the moment you notice your flowers drooping or turning brown at the edges. Try to use fragrant flowers like gardenias or pink roses. Their fresh aromas will help soothe your tender nerves.
Wreath Wearers: Sex and the City author Candace Bushnell and Academy Award winning actress Julia Roberts both went the way of the wreath for their 4th of July nuptials. Bushnell donned a garland of roses for her beachfront ceremony while Roberts chose daisies. The look? Youthful and crazy in love.
Finally, after you’ve made your selection, make sure it’s a keeper. Try it on while wearing your wedding day hairstyle and your gown. Take an instant camera with you and photograph your look from every angle before you slap your credit card down on the counter. Remember whatever you chose will be in your wedding album till death do you part.