Celebrity Fascinator Styles and Tips

Whether it's a wedding, a formal party or a day at the races, hair fascinators never go out of style. The perfect choice for the summer season, fascinators complement a range of different 'up-dos', as well as lending interest to wearing your hair loose. Look to the world of fashion and celebrity for inspiration as well as considering the style, size and colours that suit you.

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Five ways to wear

The term hair fascinator usually refers to a decorative hair piece that can be
anything from a feathered clip to even more extravagant versions that are more like hats in terms of size and shape. There are so many variations to choose from now, as recent years have seen the hair accessory soar in popularity thanks to occasions like the Royal Wedding. Try matching a small sparkly piece with cropped hair like Emma Watson, or go for soft floral notes like Helena Bonham Carter.

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Colour plays an all-important role, as with any accessory. If you're planning a wedding outfit, many women opt for soft feminine hues like dusky rose, sea green or neutrals like cream or taupe. Of course, there's nothing to stop you choosing a striking accent colour if your dress is fairly unadventurous; look to the styles of Sarah Jessica Parker or Katy Perry for ideas on how to contrast your outfit.

Size is the thing that gets fascinators in the limelight – think Lady Gaga's more sculptural creations. The end result is certainly worth it, but it makes sense to find something that suits both your face and figure. Petite or slim girls can look weighed down by an oversized fascinator and those with fine features may be overshadowed. Ladies with a strong bone structure and jawline can pull off the really flamboyant styles, but if in doubt, take a leaf out of Victoria Beckham's book and opt for a modest, fitted style that still exudes class.

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Where to place your fascinator may sound easy enough, but get the angle wrong and the look can slip from on-trend to plain odd. A fascinator positioned on the side of your head generally works better than right on the crown. If wearing your hair up, nestle a clip where the weight of your hair is, so that the fascinator looks like part of the style. Larger disc-shaped pieces, as seen on Kate Middleton, are almost like hats, so make sure your hair complements this and is pinned either underneath or to the opposite side.

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Alice-bands are often a good alternative, particularly if you have fine or short hair that may lack the volume needed to support a bigger style. Corsage bands also work well as the positioning is already sorted for you and these make a nice addition to a more natural do, if you're wearing your hair down. Pearls, ribbons and smaller flowers are all complementary and celebrities like Eva Mendes have shown how you can get away with a combination of band and embellished netting by keeping the hairdo simple.

Match your look

In any case, it's always a good idea to try a few styles on in the shops according to what suits your hair colour, the shape of your face and your outfit. Particularly if attending a formal event like a wedding, do a practice run of your hairstyle before the day of the event and see what works best. Above all, fascinators are girlish, eye-catching and a lot of fun to wear, so enjoy the opportunity and be creative with it.

For great hair accessories, uk tweet @Scramboodle.

Guest post by Sophie Banat