High Tea, High Style Hair Accessory: the Fascinating Fascinator

It's Time for High Tea, British Style

What better reason to create the only fascinator you'd dare yourself to wear...the hat that fits your playful personality...a spring headband that says you don't take herself too seriously...or a flower with a futuristic flair.  Let's not forget our faithful lacy shrug and shawl, waiting for just the right occasion to make an appearance.  

And yes, we also can't forget those lace gloves that unfortunately lost their rightful place in women's accessories decades ago.  But we vintage girls say... heck yeah, gotta wear lace gloves when we go to high tea/afternoon tea. 
 Red Heart - Pattern

Vintage Lace Gloves

Today's Lace Gloves - Craftsy

That's right, ladies...it's time for high tea.  Knitting and crocheting divas like yourselves, don't waste time shopping when you can let your creative juices run havoc, designing something modern, vintage, off-the-wall, traditional, artsy...for this 
long-standing tradition from across the pond and beyond. 

(Black & White Knitted Fascinator-Right Photo)

(Black Heart Fascinator - Below - Pop Sugar)

              Above - Red Heart Pattern)

So What Exactly is a Fascinator?

From V is for Vintage  (Edited)

A fascinator hat is a small ornamental headpiece that fits on the head using an Alice-in-Wonder-land-band-type base or headband or even a small comb. It's always lightweight and usually features feathers, beads or flowers. But these days they can also be knitted and crocheted as we see in the photos above.  

The term fascinator began in the 1990s when these headpieces became popular for wearing at weddings to avoid getting helmet hair from a veil or wedding hat.  You could stay bridal cute with a fascinator and easily go from wedding to reception without flagging down a hair stylist in between.

1980s FASCINATORS

(Knitted Fascinator)

FASCINATING FASCINATOR FACTS

1.  These days, it's worn for any occasion, but mostly formal.  
2.  It's only purpose is as hair decoration. 
3.  It sits at an angle on the head as if perching on top of a favorite hairstyle.  
4.  A cross between a hair accessory and a cocktail hat, it often comes with a veil or a pouf of tulle/organza.

ITS ORIGIN?

Fascinators as we know it today were adopted in the London (Luton-based) millinery trade during the late 1970s and 80s. However, the word ‘fascinator’ has been used in previous centuries to describe a lacy head-covering similar to a shawl but much smaller and lighter.

21st CENTURY FASCINATORS

Today's modern fascinator is often embellished with crystals, beads, or loops of ribbon, and attaches via a comb or headband. Others have a small, stiff, flat base that can be secured with pins.  It can be whimsical, stylish or daring as you like.  Your imagination holds the key.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN 

AFTERNOON TEA AND A HIGH TEA?

Brief Tea History from About Food 

(A website for traditional British and Irish recipes.)

What is an Afternoon Tea?

Afternoon Tea is a British food tradition, an afternoon treat of tea, sandwiches, scones and cake. But, often the term High Tea is used. These two are often confused, but actually, they are different.

Answer:
Afternoon tea is served around 4.00pm.

When afternoon tea became fashionable in the early 19th century, thanks to the Anna, the Duchess of Bedford it was never intended to replace dinner but rather to fill in the long gap between lunch and dinner at a time when dinner was served at 8pm. Lifestyles have changed since those times and afternoon tea is now a treat, rather than a stop-gap.

Origins of Afternoon Tea was preserved from the 19th century. For workers in the newly industrialized Britain, ‘tea’ had to wait until after work and be substantially more than just tea and cakes.

Workers needed sustenance after a day of hard labor, so the after work meal was more often hot and filling and accompanied by a pot of good, strong tea to revive from a weary day.

TRADITIONAL BRITISH HIGH TEA FARE

Ritz London

The Ritz London Afternoon Tea Menus

We are proud to present the menu for our world famous afternoon tea.

SANDWICH SELECTION

Ham with Grain Mustard Mayonnaise on Brioche Bread

Cheddar Cheese with Chutney on Tomato Bread
Cucumber with Cream Cheese, Dill and Chives on Granary Bread
Chicken Breast with Parsley Cream on Malt Bread
Scottish Smoked Salmon with Lemon Butter on Sourdough Bread
Egg Mayonnaise with Chopped Shallots and Watercress on White Bread

SCONES AND PASTRIES

Freshly Baked Raisin and Plain Scones with Cornish Clotted Cream and Strawberry Preserve.

Assortment of British Tea, Pastries and Cakes.

TEA SELECTION

Ritz Royal English	Darjeeling First Flush	Assam Tippy Orthodox	Ceylon Orange Pekoe
Oolong Formosa	Earl Grey Imperial	Rose Congou	Lapsang Souchong
Russian Caravan	Dragon Pearls	Chun Mee	Moroccan Mint
Rooibos Red Tea	Passion Fruit and Orange	Camomile Flowers	Lemon Verbena
The Ritz Chai	Chocolate Mint Rooibos

Ritz Carlton Philly could learn a thing or two from the Ritz London.

A Taste of Britain - Cafe, Tea Shop, Catering

If you don't have a passport or need to update it and live near Wayne, Pennsylvania... you can enjoy a traditional afternoon tea, along with English dishes at A Taste of Britain.  

• Full Afternoon Tea — 18.0

  Today’s Delicious Selection of 8 Tea Sandwiches, Freshly Baked Scone Served with Clotted Cream, Lemon Curd, and Preserves, Plus an Assortment of Mini Pastries, Along with your Favorite Pot of Tea. Select your scone type and beverage.

ENGLISH FAVORITES 

Mushroom Savory Bread Pudding

Many of these are also available in our freezer for you to enjoy at home.

• Wild Mushroom and Parmesan Bread Pudding - 12.5

  Savory Bread Pudding with Mushrooms, Herbs, Fontina and Parmesan Cheese, Served with a House Salad or Cup of Soup
  

• Mushrooms with Toast — 11

  Sauteed Mushrooms in a Cream Sauce with English Cheddar and a Touch of Mustard, Served with Toast Points for Dipping
  

• Welsh Rarebit (please allow 20 minutes) — 10

  Cheese Sauce made with Guinness, Colman’s Mustard, and Egg, Broiled on Bread
  Add Heinz Baked Beans – 4.5
  

• Chicken Pot Pie — 13.5

  Tender Pieces of Chicken, Peas, and Carrots, Topped with a Flaky Puff Pastry Served with a House Salad or Cup of Soup
  

• Ploughman's Platter (great to share!) — 13.5

  Assorted English Cheeses, Pickled Onions, Branston Pickles, Fruit, and Crackers
  

• Cheese & Onion Pasty ~ or ~ Cornish Pasty - 13.5

  A Tender Pastry Crust filled with a Savory Cheese and Onion Mixture or a Ground Beef and Potato Mixture, Served with Baked Beans or House Salad
  

• Sausage Rolls - 10

  Sausage and Onion Mixture Wrapped in Puff Pastry, Two Rolls per Order, Served with Colman’s Mustard or Curried Ketchup
  

• Beef Cottage Pie - 13.5

  Savory Ground Beef, Peas, Carrots, and Onions, Topped with Mashed Potatoes, Served with a House Salad or Cup of Soup

SPRING SHRUGS

You can go sassy or fancy.  You decide.

Spring Crocheted Shrug

I Love Crochet - Spring Shrug

Ravelry

ALICE IN WONDERLAND FASCINATOR 

AND HEADBAND

Alice in Wonderland-Inspired Fascinator

Alice in Wonderland-Inspired Headband

Flaunt your personal style, whatever they is, and enjoy your high tea--your way.

First Tuesday-Thursday Knitting & Crocheting Club wants to hear about your group's ventures into high/afternoon tea land.  Talk about your favorite place to go in your town and show off your photos on our Facebook page or our Google+ page.  And please don't forget to like us, we're a fun group...just like you.


Happy Knitting & Crocheting!