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On Tuesday I posted photos of hats on display at the Bay department store window. The display was part of a video/photo installation of the bizarre Japan Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Della Russo and the insipid "fashion" blogger Tommy Tan, who blogs about what he thinks is the latest "in" thing for fashion. I failed (and still fail) to see the connection between the lovely hats and the slovenly Russo and Tan.
It turns out that the hats are by British milliner and fashion designer Jacques Vert, whose hats are being promoted during the "Royal Wedding Celebrations" which the Bay is modestly hosting on Thursday and Friday. I think the window display designer (it turned out to be a "he" - Scott Lovell, who obliged me with this updated information) felt compelled (or was instructed by higher authorities) to include these hats along with the Russo/Tan installation. I wonder why he didn't organize a larger, more complete, display of the wedding, including clothing, photos, wedding dresses (didn't Diana's ever occur to him?!), sans Russo/Tan? But, like all post-modern designers, he is at odds with beauty, formality, hierarchy etc., etc., so he gives us a mish-mash of ugliness (Russo and Tan) who overwhelm small islands of beauty (the hats) so we hardly realize that beauty exists at all.
I was finally directed by a saleswoman to the third floor of the store to see more of Vert's hats. Another saleswoman explained to me that some of these "hats" are fascinators, which are a combination of a head gear and a head piece. Here's what Wikipedia says about fascinators:
A fascinator is a headpiece, a style of millinery. The word originally referred to a fine, lacy head covering akin to a shawl and made from wool or lace. The term had fallen almost into disuse by the 1970sThis saleswoman also gave me an invitation to the store's "Royal wedding Celebrations" where the royals' favorite accessory, hats, will be part of the event. Invitees (she made us/me seem exclusive and special) will also get up to 20% off all items on display for the event. I suppose 20% off a $150 hat/fascinator is a pretty good deal.
In the early 21st century, the term has made a comeback, but the meaning has slightly changed; it is now used to describe a delicate, slightly-to-very frivolous head decoration worn almost exclusively by women. A fascinator may be worn instead of a hat to occasions where hats were traditionally worn—such as weddings—or as an evening accessory, when it may be called a cocktail hat. It is generally worn with fairly formal attire.
So the mystery behind, and purpose of, those yellow rimmed head pieces has finally been solved.