Precariously perched, but never in danger of premature perfidity, the fascinator is always de rigeur for the fashion-conscious racegoer.
The term fascinator was first coined in the 17th century to describe the lacy scarf women wrapped around their heads – or fastened, hence the name: it gave them an alluring air of mystery.
It fell out of fashion until a revival in the 1960s when New York milliner John P. John brought it back with his new line of petite cocktail hats. Clip-hats or half-hats were already popular, the, but John's sexy new name and his slick designs made them even more on trend.
Fascinators are very popular with British and European high-society and can always be seen at weddings and top-flight race meetings.
