Hat or Fascinator - advice - is either passe?

[AlmaSinger]

I am in weddig quandry!

So far, for a July wedding I have bought a dress - the Calvin Klein Polka Dot Stretch Cotton Dress, second one down iunder tip #5, and some plain navy blue shoes.

What I mainly need advice on is whether to go for a hat or fascinator - does anyone have any advice? Is either particularly out of fashion or frumpy?

Thank you!

I think the true fashion forward are wearing hair brooches, or hair jewels or some shit like that anyway.

Dress = fabulous!

Fascinators - Not in any way, shape or form fabulous. In fact I'd say they're an instant indicator of a distinct lack of style.

Hat - in theory yes but I'm not sure what style would go with that dress.

I think some of the ladies wore them at the Oscars this year, will have a google, hold on

www.shefaly.co.uk/blog/category/hair-jewellery article about half way down

Hm thank you for your responses, may avoid the fascinator all together!

Quite like the idea of some sort of fancy alice band type thing, I have chin length hair but I'm hoping to grow it a bit for easier wedding styling!

Perhaps something like this?

Pill box hat, perched demurely at an angle, with a veil coming over your eyes. You have to have a fancy up 'do as well for the pill box hat to nestle amongst your curls rather than it just sitting there looking like a head pimple.

Colour-wise, you could do white, or navy, or the featured blue in the dots. Depends what you can find. I am the veteran of serious hat shopping last weekend, and there ain't a lot left out there apart from gold, black or pink, it seems. Everyone stripped the shelves of other colours in April, apparently!

I found a gorgeous hat in Hoopers in Tunbridge Wells - they have a large occasion wear department. You may want to google 'Occasion Wear' on Google Maps to see if there are specialist shops near you. Otherwise hit the big department stores. No good ordering over the internet, as it could look totally wrong with your face once you try it on.

Fascinators always make me think of the pissed auntie or something - they are vile.

I'd say a very wide brimmed hat would look great with that dress.

The alice band you linked to is too fussy for the style of dress you have.

I think you need something plain.

This is nice.

Thanks Undertone, I actually had to google "Pill box hat" which shows you how unknowledgeable I am in this area, hence the need for guidance!

There are a couple of "occasion wear" shops near me. Luckily still 2 months until the wedding so plenty of time to find something (I keep telling myself)

Good point re: fussy alice band, would something like this be better?

I would go for something more like this

Ok, I can look for that! I guess the only thing to do is try them on with the dress and see. Also need to find a cropped cardigan/pashmina type thing to cover the shoulders, and a bag.... I am anticipating a colour matching nightmare!

Thank you for your replies

If it were me, I would be going for navy/dark blue accessories.

I'd say a navy pashmina if you are going for a hairband, cropped fitted cardigan if you go for the hat.

I'd go for an oversized clutch for the bag.

The dress has a slight 50s feel to it, so I would go along with the pillbox hat idea, or those slightly curly fitted shaped hats - I have no idea what they're called. If it's a posh wedding I might even splash out on some gloves.

Where are you based? There is probably a hat hire firm near you that can advise you on what will best suit your face shape, outfit etc.