Hat "Bibi"

Fascinator

« Elegance is an assemblage of details » - a very true phrase when it specifically describes feminine elegance. Literally, when we scan from head to toe, the smallest details of women’s dresses represent our visual ideas of elegance.

When she leaves the house and regardless of the exterior illumination, a woman will already have chosen her clothes, shoes, accessories, hairstyle, earrings, rings, bracelets and all of these harmoniously matching or contrasting with each other. In front of her mirror, the woman will have duly chosen them and her hairstyle before putting the final touches to her make-up. Depending on the occasion, and even more so on her carefully arranged hairstyle, the woman chooses what she will wear on her head: a hat, a cap or a fascinator.

Without doubt her choice will fall on the very feminine fascinator which has had much success in the world, especially since the wedding of Kate, Duchess of Cambridge with the eventual heir to the British throne. Fascinators have in fact been worn since the 17^th century.

Normally brides opt for a headband or a clip adorned with flowers, lace, gemstones and a short veil.

You only have to flick through a European fashion magazine or surf the internet to find the creation of fascinators and the flutter of excitement that this accessory provokes in the environments where they are worn, whether it be during daytime or even in the evening.

Traditionally it was a headpiece made from a small circlet with feathers and down, the most opulent having gemstones and diamonds. However, modern designers have created rich and very sophisticated models with very varied adornments, ranging from a simple element (a pen, a flower) to a confection of organza, satin, gemstones, veiling, lace, flowers and diamonds.

Taking account of the diverse tastes and the different styles of women of all ages (and even their children), some are sober whilst others are very chic. Such is the female fascination with this pillar of the milliners’ art that some mothers wish to use them to dress up their little girls. This fashion has even been extended to baby girls who wear fascinators for special occasions attached to the head by a narrow band of knitted fabric.

The fascinator has been the most seen bridal accessory recently, having been chosen by brides to replace the traditional veil. Regardless of her style and the simplicity or sophistication of her dress, a bride can opt for a fascinator which has greater or lesser embellishments and with more or less elements.

Having said that, the general rule is that: if the gown is very elaborate, it is recommended to wear the most discreet fascinator possible. However, if the outfit is plain and simple you can wear an elaborate fascinator.

In your dressing room you can have numerous styles of fascinators for every possible occasion. They can be made in different colours, sizes and materials. The choice will not only depend on the style, but also the occasion. Those with lots of sequins or diamonds should be kept for the evening or night and should be in harmony with the gown. The simplicity of one should contrast with the exuberance of the other. One should respect the rules of colour with great attention, and the hues of the fascinator should be in conformity with the occasion.

The material, as well as the fabrication should also be taken into account. The fascinator should be created with fabric, feathers, ribbons, lace and veiling, giving a composition of quality with very elegant trimmings.

There are several ways to fix a fascinator to the head:

-          With a clip, to showcase an elaborate hairstyle. It gives a special touch to a well-styled chignon.

-          With a plastic or metal comb, leaving the fascinator free and avoiding the need for a special hairstyle

-          With a tiara, normally worn with loose hair and with decorations which are attached to one side only.

As a general rule a fascinator is worn on one side, and preferably the right side of the head. When it is in the form of a disc, this headpiece is correctly called a Disc Fascinator.

In many countries wearing a fascinator has certainly become one of the most popular feminine accessories, enhancing a lady’s beauty with its exquisite detailing.

My desire was to create beautiful hat cases, cases that combine elegance, functionality and refinement. For this, I called upon my friend, the very talented Brazilian designer Gabriela Goldschmidt De La Fuente. The main design objective was to create an image that reference the G in the Gedilva logo, perfectly representing the brand signature. Gabriela created a sleek and dynamic design in two colors that created strong visual recognition of the brand. The motifs representing a stylized G, refer back to the logo to give a very aesthetically appealing look.

I wanted the hat cases to be fabricated in France. French craftsmanship represents the highest manufacturing quality and expertise in luxury items. I selected Multi Services Carton in Paris, who have specialized in producing luxury packaging for many years. Each of my cases is made exclusively by hand with flawless manufacturing quality.

I wanted a case that would be representative of the quality of my brand, and that matched the style and panache of the hat within the case. When you purchase a Gedilva designed hat, you will possess a high fashion and high quality hat and case set that will accompany you throughout your life.