It is so refreshing to see hats completing women’s attires again. I believe this year has marked the advent of a new era for hats. We have seen many extravagant creations on the stage of the British Royal wedding last April.
Some hats were awesome, some not so quite and some others puzzled me how they stood up on women’s head in a perfect balance, but they all had the goal to shock and amaze. After all it wasn’t a common day for business as usual, it was the day of the royal wedding, every guest had the license to overdue.
A couple of weeks later, at the Orticola Trade Show in Milano, I was happily surprised to see so many women in hats again, but this was a garden show, a place where vendors were showing their green novelties in gardens and orchards, flowers, bulbs, vegetables and the latest in garden technology. I truly loved the display of floral hats in all shapes, forms and colors, a display of elegance and femininity returning on earth. Women are feeling comfortable in their own skin again, no longer having the need to mimic men in any of their life expressions.
(Photo right found on: http://fioriefoglie.tgcom24.it/2011/05/07/inaugurata-orticola-2011-festa-di-fiori-piante-e-cappelli/#more-9022)
This year the trend of artificial flowers in communion with artificial food fetish is showing up everywhere, in jewelry, on hats, in dresses and even in the way stores display their fashion merchandise. A casual summer dress this year looks very flowery and colorful. The lightweight lends itself to the games that a soft wind might play between the fabric.
Artificial flowers made of silk and papyrus with a hint of perfume were already known in Egypt around 3000 B.C., also used by Greek and Roman women. During the Middle Age artificial flowers became so fashionable in upper class circles of France that Paris and Lyon became well-famous for manufacturing the most stunning creations of accessories with flowers, fruits and ribbons destined to embellish the already extravagant ladies’ dresses.
Fresh flowers adorned women and men’s body as well all through different historic periods.
During the Middle Age girls in age to be married decorated their head with a single wreath of fresh flowers, an indication of virginity.
During the Rococo’ and the French Empire Era women decorated their voluptuous dresses with fresh flowers and ribbons, while men’s final touch was to wear a gardenia on the lapel, a custom men continued well in today’s dressing: a gardenia for a tuxedo and a carnation for an evening suit.
Earlier, I mentioned how creative some trendy stores are treating the display of the merchandise in their windows this Spring. The usage of fruits, vegetables and some beautiful insects like butterflies instill harmony and peace in the shopper’s view, it doesn’t really look like they are selling. Selling is a real art, when selling with nature in mind, it feels good and inviting.
(Photo: Anthropologie)
I am loving the soft look of Spring and Summer collection this year, it is spiritual, organic, sexy and it is calling for love. You will find it also transported in the interiors of eclectic homes where natural fabrics and colors mix and blend with bricks or distressed wall finishes.
When in doubt, call the expert and I shall be here for you. Please leave your name in the box below. Ciao,
Valentina
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Copyright © 2011 Valentina Cirasola, All Rights Reserved
Valentina Cirasola is an Italian Interior and Fashion Designer, working in the USA and Europe. She blends well fashion and interior in any of her design work. She loves to remodel homes and loves to create the unusual.
She is the author of three books available on
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