Q&A for How to Wear a Fascinator

I'm planning to use a little bit of hair near the forehead to put in a small plait for a few inches before bringing the hair back together. The clips will clip to the plait and hopefully grip. You could also clip it to a headband, but I'm not sure if this would work.

I believe it would be great, especially if the wedding is in a church. If there's a reception afterwards, leave the fascinator in the car for a sit down dinner. Wear it if the reception is drinks and canapes.

Small ones are appropriate, while a big fascinator may look too gaudy and distracting. If you are not sure, show the fascinator to your pastor, who will tell you whether or not it is appropriate for Easter Sunday services.

Absolutely. You will want it attached to a ribbon, worn over your forehead and completely around your head. The fascinator should be comparatively small and worn to the side.

If you know you're going to be eating, wear the fascinator back a little. If you want it really jaunty, push it to the side rather than the front. If the meal is a surprise, go to the ladies room, and adjust the hat for the meal. The main rule is that a fascinator is meant to be pretty, and celebratory. Be comfortable and enjoy it.

Navy or bright blue enhances the white hair. Any color that has a yellow in it (green, golds, yellows) may clash with your hair color, leaving it looking yellowish.

It will depend on the print, and the design of the dress. I would say that any design that is not full, with a big skirt or oversized ruffles at the shoulders would take a carefully chosen fascinator quite well. Make sure you don't have too many patterns or colors, and make sure the size of the fascinator looks balanced with the dress. If the dress is custom made for you, it would be fun to have both made from the same material. Fascinators should be pretty, and invite conversation.

If you have no part, a fascinator is traditionally worn on the right. Otherwise it is recommended to use it to cover your parting. (This means the opposite side is all hair, not roots.)

It can be worn on either side. It's best worn over the part in your hair. If you have no part, it's easier to put it on the right side.

A fascinator expresses your delight in dressing up. It should be the same color as the dress, unless the dress has a trim color that you love. If you don't just love the color of your dress, you can pair it with a coordinating color you love. But beware of more than two colors at a time. The outfit should look designed to go together.

Absolutely! You're going to an event where guests have specifically been asked to wear fascinators, so most likely people will be wearing all kinds of outfits with them. A jumper sounds just fine.

It doesn't matter. You might want to balance your look by having the corsage and fascinator on opposite sides. If you aren't happy with the look, consider wearing the corsage on your wrist, where the two won't be so close together.

It will depend on the darkness of the two colors. If there's enough contrast it will be nice, but if both colors are too dark, it will fail as a combination. When using two colors, it's nice to have a touch of the second color somewhere else in the outfit - a handkerchief, flower, gloves, shoes, jewelry, etc.

No. The courtroom is a serious place where people need to concentrate. A fascinator is a distraction, and could suggest inappropriate frivolity in court, where there may be a lot at stake. Leave it in the car, and wear it out to drinks after court, if you have reason to celebrate. Exception: Getting married at the courthouse. A fascinator should be perfect for that.

No, not during a sit-down dinner. Wear it during wedding ceremony and at a reception serving canapés and appetizers but remove it at a sit-down dinner.

No, usually the veil is meant to be in your face or to the side. The veil is usually see-through so it won’t be a problem though you could also turn towards the side instead. If you don't like how it feels, then don't wear a fascinator, use options such as a great hairdo or a hat instead.