Headbands have returned in a big way. That’s “big” as in not just trending among Instagram’s most followed influencers but also in size. Big enough to satisfy your craving for a hat. Thickly padded and tall enough to be mistaken for a tiara. Therein may lie the secret of the new headband’s success. Kate Middleton was on board months ago. The supersized headband may stand in as the Duchess of Cambridge’s everyday version of headgear she can legitimately borrow from the Queen. For the rest of us, the padded headband is the closest we will come IRL to wearing a tiara.
Kate’s been a fan as far back as November when she wore a tall, black velvet version for a service marking the centenary of the Armistice at Westminster Abbey. The headband made an appearance as the duchess attended Christmas Day services at Sandringham’s St. Mary Magdalene Church with Prince William. She followed up by accessorizing an icy blue Catherine Walker coat-dress with matching headband and heels when she attended the same church just after New Year’s Day.
The duchess is not alone in her appreciation for the headband. Major influencers such as Camila Coelho, Chiara Ferragni, and Leonie Hanne are loving the accessory, and you can trip over the numbers of women wearing them on the streets of New York.
Trend that emerged in Spring 2019 shows
The current wave hit following the Spring 2019 shows of designers such as Prada, Miu Miu, and Simone Rocha, who served up classic ladylike headbands of silk embellishment with crystals, beads and studs. Maybe those designers took cues from the trend for sportier headband styles from Fendi and Gucci. Maybe someone binge watched old Gossip Girl shows and was taken by queen bee Blair Waldorf’s wardrobe.
Headbands have been appreciated by every woman from Jackie O to country club tennis players to prep school girls for their practicality as well as classic style. They keep hair out of your face and make you look good while doing it. A headband disguises the “ran out the door with damp hair or skipped your morning shampoo” look. They add instant polish to your look without requiring any effort at all.
Headbands work with all hair lengths
Headbands work with hair that’s short or long, straight or tousled, natural or styled into a ponytail or low bun. You’ve seen bloggers favoring the center part, but any part looks good. Wear them with puff-sleeves and maxi dresses, belted blazers and skirt suits.
You can try out the look with affordable headbands from J. Crew, ASOS, Amazon, Free People, and Urban Outfitters. Instagram influencers favor brands Lele Sadoughi and Jennifer Behr, where you can find knotted, braided and rounded headbands starting at about $40 and ranging up to $400 for embellishments such as pearls and crystals. You may want to browse an English Etsy shop, DesignByHummingbird, which earned 274 five-star reviews for their thickly padded headbands.