Barrettes, combs, clasps: Hair accessories
I hav
e been asked, what about hair accessories?
Vintage Kimono hair clip, $20, Takishimaya. Made of vintage kimono fabric, 5 inches long.
Plissé bow barrette of Italian leather, in black, cognac, dark blue or coral, $65 from Dominique Duval.
Jaw clips can rise above the plastic look. This leather-covered version comes in six colours; shown, teal, $55 for the Rustic Leather clip, from Dominique Duval.
For a more polished look than a coated elastic, with enough room for thick hair, France Luxe's Volume Ponytail Barrette in camel horn. Price, $24.
L. Ericksen's Makeover Pinch is a long (5 1/2 inch) clip for twist-back styles, and I like the nacré onyx finish, $40 from France Luxe.
For thick,
voluminous hair, this France Luxe Rectangle Volume Barrette, called Voltaire. At nearly 4 inches long, it will hold a low ponytail in place; shown in the summery Voltaire Green colourway; price, $21.
Discreet
Blue Heron Woods make beautiful hair accessories in exotic woods. All pieces are handmade, so your order might take several weeks to produce.
Shown above, Large East Indian Rosewood Barrette, $21. Measures 3 3/4 inches long, a pract
ical size.
Blue Heron's curved mahogony and turquoise hair stick is a graceful option for a twist or up-do; $19.
France Luxe's Sexy Oval is just that, 2 1/2 by 1 1/4 inches, for holding back a smaller amount of hair just so. Comes in nine different finishes, shown , the vibrant Tokyo, $16 from France Luxe.
This vintage (ca. 1959) black French barrette, price, $18.95 from Accessories of Old, is like nothing I've seen made today. And it's still on its original card.
Like a littl
e twist with your classic?
The France Luxe Triple Row Stud Volume Barrette adds pyramid studs for an edgy dimension; price, $98. Available in black and two torty finishes, shown, Tokyo.
I like this so much I might grow my hair!
e been asked, what about hair accessories?Few accessories look more juvenile on a woman of 50+ than the hard plastic headband. (Hillary Clinton looks like she is about to wash her face in this '08 New York Magazine shot.) I've castigated this item before, and recognize that perfectly wonderful women wear them. If you must wear yours to practice your cello, all right. So, I'd better ante up and provide some alternatives.
I suspect the reason why I see so many women in little-girl headbands and bitsy barrettes is that chic hair accessories are hard to find.
You can go two routes: the decorative, or the discreet.
Decorative
Decorative hair accessories should be considered jewelry; if you'd wear it on your dress, wear it in your hair. You will have to tolerate plastic on most pieces, either in the mechanism or visible surface, but there are some attractive models nethertheless.
You can go two routes: the decorative, or the discreet.
Decorative
Decorative hair accessories should be considered jewelry; if you'd wear it on your dress, wear it in your hair. You will have to tolerate plastic on most pieces, either in the mechanism or visible surface, but there are some attractive models nethertheless.
Plissé bow barrette of Italian leather, in black, cognac, dark blue or coral, $65 from Dominique Duval.
Jaw clips can rise above the plastic look. This leather-covered version comes in six colours; shown, teal, $55 for the Rustic Leather clip, from Dominique Duval. 
For a more polished look than a coated elastic, with enough room for thick hair, France Luxe's Volume Ponytail Barrette in camel horn. Price, $24.
L. Ericksen's Makeover Pinch is a long (5 1/2 inch) clip for twist-back styles, and I like the nacré onyx finish, $40 from France Luxe. For thick,
voluminous hair, this France Luxe Rectangle Volume Barrette, called Voltaire. At nearly 4 inches long, it will hold a low ponytail in place; shown in the summery Voltaire Green colourway; price, $21. Discreet
Blue Heron Woods make beautiful hair accessories in exotic woods. All pieces are handmade, so your order might take several weeks to produce.
Shown above, Large East Indian Rosewood Barrette, $21. Measures 3 3/4 inches long, a pract
ical size. Blue Heron's curved mahogony and turquoise hair stick is a graceful option for a twist or up-do; $19.
France Luxe's Sexy Oval is just that, 2 1/2 by 1 1/4 inches, for holding back a smaller amount of hair just so. Comes in nine different finishes, shown , the vibrant Tokyo, $16 from France Luxe.
This vintage (ca. 1959) black French barrette, price, $18.95 from Accessories of Old, is like nothing I've seen made today. And it's still on its original card.Like a littl
e twist with your classic? The France Luxe Triple Row Stud Volume Barrette adds pyramid studs for an edgy dimension; price, $98. Available in black and two torty finishes, shown, Tokyo.
I like this so much I might grow my hair!
Comments
Now when my hair needs taming, it's either tied back in a scarf or under a fabric covered headband (nothing too girly or "Muffy," natch).
BTW, it's also more elegant to let a strand or two "escape" when pulling one's hair up or back. It certainly helps avoid the look Ms. Clinton is sporting in that photo!
These are the same women wearing capri leggings with tunics. And since I've started wearing capri leggings with tunics, I might try--if I can figure out how to do the scarves. But I wouldn't do it without checking with you first!
P.S. I am so in love with Hillary. Note that the general who dissed the entire administration only had good things to say about Hillary.
Frugal: To me, more a hat substitute or way to wear a scarf than a serious implement to hold hair up/back. I wonder- tight enough would not be comfortable, loose will slip. Not sure I could stand it all day. The models look pretty in these ethnic-influenced wraps.
....funny thing I had a skinny crystal clip in my hair yesterday to keep my hair out of my face...stacking hundreds of textbooks in a book room and it is hot work!
I've resorted to wearing a scarf folded into a band and tied at the nape of the neck on my "on-my-way-to-the-salon" days. But I consider that a desparate measure.
lagatta: It's those hard headbands I'm trying to purge, especially the velvet ones.
hostess: Clips are useful even for short hair, aren't they! I sometimes use one for yoga.
Pseu: Scarf in hair is more like a hat; I like them on even fabulous hair days.
http://www.ficcare.com/