Get Your Tiara On (NOT a Royal Wedding post)
Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 8:39AM I feel like a bag full of assholes1 today and wasn’t planning on writing anything. The Cedar tree pollen is raping my face. The Candyman is suffering as well. New state, new spring allergies to fuck with us both. FAN-tastic! So I’m already a might bit surly, with nastiness running down the back of my throat, occasionally pit-stopping in my mouth. Nice, right? Y’all are lucky I’m not feeling more descriptive today.
I was tooling around the interwebs and happened across a planner’s blog. I’m not going to link the tool because I certainly don’t want to encourage traffic there. The mystery blog’s post was in regards to tiaras, Princess Kate’s borrowed Cartier (can you imagine that conversation? “Yo, HRH! Can I borrow some bling?” OK, maybe not…) and a description of “What’s Hot and What’s Not.” From the post…
…eschewing my earlier warning. Now that we’ll see trends pouring out of the UK and into mass retail for brides to consume with utter abandon, take heed and avoid the tiara . . . we advise against the fake-it-till-you-make-it adage here, girls. Your $32 Moissanite version ain’t. cutting. it.
OK, so in the less than 10 minutes I spent on this blog, I saw the word “eschew” no less than 3 times. OK, Mr. Fancy Pants. We get it. There were some pictures of tiaras that the author posted as lame. Were they lame? Yeah, kinda. But they also looked like they were circa 1998.
I definitely left a “shame on you” comment because what I think is LAME is the attitude. There ain’t a damn thing wrong with a fake-it-till-you-make-it approach to weddings. I mean, holychristonabike, that’s what my wedding was ALL ABOUT! My favorite blogs are the ones that gave me inspiration that wasn’t Cartier or Stuart Weitzman or letterpress invitations or Lily of the Valley bouquets or Vera Wang. And to this very day, I look back at my wedding and think I did a damn fine job of faking it, thank you very much.
So in a retaliation post of sorts (here I go, starting a ruckus again), I’m going to feature TIARAS, mothereffers. Pretty ones. Ones that don’t suck. Ones that aren’t Cartier. That WIC planner can suck it.
Rose and Leaf Tiara from Twigs and Honey, $195
Jenny Packman via Studded Hearts
Helena Tiara from Tigerlily, $100
My advice to this planner (now that I’ve calmed down a bit) is this: how about constructive criticism versus leading brides away from a trend they really might want. How about, “avoiding dated ribbon curls or pointy buns or tiaras that don’t seem to fit?” How about helping the bride with her wedding day hair and talking about options? Ask how she really wants to look and feel on her wedding day. How about researching the look for affordable unique designs that don’t have to smack of tacky? Sheesh.
So there. Go ahead and get your princess on.
1Feeling coined by Marie, the day after my wedding.
Louise
OK, I'm gonna take back my snarky comments about the planner. He wrote me an email regarding my comment on his blog and explained his "slightly acerbic and tongue-in-cheek" approach to "Hot or Not."
Having been misunderstood a-plenty on my own blog, I gotta give the guy props for writing me and explaining himself.
I'm going to blame tree pollen and sore throat for my tiara-tirade. To the planner? Props, dude. My bad.
Designer, TruLu Couture
Blogger. Wife. Smart Ass.
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Reader Comments (12)
You know, I've always been anti-tiara. My thought process goes like this, "You're a BRIDE, not a freaking PRINCESS, get over yourself." But, now that I've seen these lovely photos, I'm changing my mind. These don't look like the tiaras I had in my head, they look like lovely, jeweled headbands. And, the ladies don't look like they're playing 'princess for a day.' A tiara wasn't right for MY wedding attire, but I won't be so quick to judge when I hear a bride-to-be say that she's wearing one. Thanks!
I agree with the first comment wholeheartedly. I was almost afraid to read your post because I am "anti-tiara" when they look too much like a version of a real tiara. I do like costume jewelry in general, but when something imitates an item that would cost hundreds of thousands, I'm not on board. It's a fine line that is hard to define. Plus tiaras have historically only been worm by aristocrats, which does not warm my heart either.
And then there's this - I don't think most tiaras, real or fake, are flattering!
But what you have posted is more of the artsy headband variety, which I LOVE LOVE LOVE.
"worn"
@Lori - Yes, it was a challenge to find more traditional, non-headband, styles of tiaras that were not displayed très tacky or where the pictures were too small for me to post I think the top picture was my best effort. However, I do think you can wear a sparkly, princess style tiara and get away with it as long as it's done right: sans ribbon curls and a look that doesn't reek of Disney.
The Helena and the Rose and Leaf are killing me. KILLING ME. Need them both now.
i saw that planner's blog too...thanks to google and your description, ha. bitchy, bitchy bitchy all over it. wear a fucking $5 tiara if it looks good?
@LIzzie - Actually SHE and I emailed a few times after I posted this and she seems pretty cool! Her humor came across in her emails - maybe not so much in her posts. And honestly, I'm pretty bitchy sometimes too . *See all posts referencing David's Bridal. ;)
I'm definitely bummed I didn't put more bling on my head at my wedding! I totally forgot about a veil until like, the day before. So I wrapped my head in tulle. Fail!!!!!
@Tamera - but I LOVED your tulle wrapped head! You're whole gig was effin' OF THE HOOK!
Kate wore the Queen Mother's tiara* (as in the mother of the current queen) as a nod to her and to encompass her in the ceremony. she didn't have to and no one bought it. it was just hanging around one of the palaces getting dusty :)
they can be quite cute, but if you're going to wear one, you're going to have to own it.
in London, we are *awash* with details about the wedding. it's insane. i dread to think what useful information has been replaced in my brain with this.
Sigh. Sigh. Sigh. My entire wedding was a T30SB "What NOT to do" event. From my David's Bridal dress right up to my tacky sparkly tiara and ringlet updo. I actually remember wanting to look like a Disney princess!!! Never have wanted to look like that since, but it was my goal that day! But if I could do it all over again - I wouldn't. Seriously. I would elope and go on a much better honeymoon!!!!
Only one week away from our 8 year anni though so I did something right :)
XO
Those flowery designer tiaras are great with beautiful models on them. I agree with Christy W that these tiaras are not the princess' type of tiaras. The uniqueness and personal touches are there. The Helena tiara is the one for my bride. great one.