Fascinated!

This weekend, I was down on the West side of Chula Vista at this store, Little Kid's Wear. I had to buy TC a bigger petticoat for her Philippine dance costumes (specifically for the Maria Clara dances which are Spanish influenced). The one she currently had was nearing the three year mark and it was getting too short for her. This place is chockfull of dresses of all colors. It is a popular place for many to buy dresses for Quinceaneras, Weddings, Communions, and other formal occasions. This place is off Broadway near H St, across from the Chula Vista Mall and kind of near the Butcher Shop restaurant.

I had a fun conversation with the guy working there - I believe he's the owner. Anyhow, as I was paying for the petticoat, I saw in the display case many feathered hairpieces. They reminded me of those cocktail fascinators recently made popular by Kate Middleton, now Princess Catherine. After watching the Royal Wedding last weekend, I was amazed at how "interesting" many of these creations were on the wedding guests. Well, some were pretty outlandish, like the one that Princess Beatrice wore.  Only at a British wedding, it seems, it is okay for the guests to "out do" the bride in their millinery fashion! I figured, what the hell! I will buy just one today, study it and figure out how to make my own!  The guy was so excited to show me all of the different ones he had plus some bigger ones that were on headbands which were a bit over the top for me. So, here's the one I got...a funky purple one.

This one was $15.99. There is a stiff fabric forming a tubular flower with rhinestones on the petal ends and in the middle. The long floaty feathers are from an ostrich. There are four long curved feathers at the top. Well, originally there were four, but one was going the other way, which really bothered me so I cut it off! The feathers are glued onto a backing and fastened on a meatal clip. These can also be affixed onto plastic hair combs, but I like the clip. I already have some ideas in my head on how I can make an even more outrageous one involving handmade zipper roses, chains, and pyramid studs.

Here it is on me...

I wore the "fascinator" yesterday, which was Mother's Day. I even got a compliment on it while washing my hands in the bathroom. It's certainly eyecatching, isn't it?  Although I didn't have a purple dress (I didn't want to look like Barney, that damn purple dinosaur), I wore it with my grey Calvin Klein sheath the zipper rosette collar details and these 4" high eggplant platform peeptoe heels. 

The purples don't quite match, but they're still in the same color family.

This was one of the first pairs of platforms I ever bought even though I don't wear them too often. They're a bit funky but I like to wear them with my fitted grey slacks for a bit of an edge. I don't think these heels are that high really, I mean, I have mostly 4" platforms now and a few pairs of 5" (with 1" on the toe part). I love platforms and wedges! Being only a 5'5" and Filipina American to boot, I need any height I can get! One thing though, I couldn't wear this shit all day (the heels not the fascinator!)! A few hours is all I can handle!

Keep Feeling Fascination!