Up-do with a (ugh) fascinator

[JessiCake]

Going to a very formal wedding this weekend (daughter of friend of my parents) and the church will be rocked it its very foundations if I turn up bare-headed. I LOATHE hats so am taking the fascinator route (which I also loathe but which I can at least TAKE OFF without leaving hat-head for the rest of the day).

I've got an OK-ish fascinator (as OK as they can be) - not massive, just a few feathery bits and a sort of mini-hat on the front of a hairband.

I always wear my hair up but just with one of those big crocodile clips or in a scrappy ponytail.

Neither of those will look right with fascinator.

I can just about do a less messy up-do with a load of kirby grips but I have a LOT of hair and it won't last long. Plus it will still look messy - I can't do a smart chignon.

Any ideas? I can't afford time or expense to get it put up at a salon (plus I will be leaving house at 8.30am to travel to wedding so wouldn't even be feasible to go to a salon)

Should I maybe try a kind of ballerina bun? If so what's the best kit for something like that?

Any ideas gratefully welcomed!

Almost wishing I'd gone with the hated hat option now...

Half up half down works well with a fascinator- could you try that? Then you could add a bit of volume to the up part which would still look good when you take off the headpiece

pomada, massively appreciate your reply thank you!

However (sorry to be a pain, and to be tricky...) I also hate half-up hair on me. Love it on other people and wish it suited me but it really doesn't. I have the most problematic hair/face combo. Basically my face is long and thin and having my hair down at ALL drags it down and makes it look awful. I wish I could have short hair BUT my hair type is wiry and thick and anything shorter than shoulder length makes it look like a toilet brush :(

Long hair up is the only way I feel comfortable sadly.

You're right though, I think half-up does look gorgeous with fascinators - just not on me!

How about going for this sort of thing with a slightly fancy headband? It's super easy and looks fancy.

manouvellemode.com/2013/01/21/headband-bun-hair-tutorial/

You could get an embellished headband or stick a nice brooch on a plain one and say goodbye to the fascinator!

Thanks Timbuktu! Will watch that vid. It's a lovely style. I shoudl probably perfect a simple messy bun/chignon anyway as I do wear my hair up all the time and it would be nice to have an option for going out.