Shopping for others, and with others’ money, is far more pleasant than shopping for yourself, with your own money and budget. In lean times, this is good strategy for achieving a shopping fix, without the financial consequences later. Luckily, I’m surrounded by successful individuals with good taste, so it can be a lot of fun.
Though I’ve always loved shopping for myself and others, only recently have friends and family asked in earnest for my ‘knowledgeable’ input on product searches. I’m more than delighted to oblige.
My mom has worn headbands consistently over the years, but has had longer hair in the past twelve months, so they’ve been a far more essential piece of everyday attire for her of late. My dad wanted to find one or two nice, higher-quality headbands for her for Christmas. Something rare and intricate, but true to her aesthetic of casual comfort over fuss. Price could be up to several hundred, but more than what she’s spend on herself.
So we set off…
Option 1 – Juko black grosgrain with multicolored rhinestones – $55. Not a truly decadent piece, but certainly one with playful flair and sparkle at a relatively low cost.
Option 2 – Salvatore Ferragamo thick grosgrain with gold metal bow – $140. Though this was in the luxuriousness range my dad was hoping for, but it’s not my mom’s style at all. She almost never wears anything with prim bows – not a preppy mom!
Option 3 – Piera cotton and linen loose bow – $112. Perfect color match for my mom, and she loves linen. Maybe too imposing though, as its size might compete with her hair. (pictured above)
Option 4 – Marc by Marc Jacobs tortoise plastic headband with bird detail – $78. Youthful, and my mom loves tortoise. Maybe a bit much for plastic (paying for the name, really).
I liked all of them, for different occasions and overall looks. From proper to luxe muss, I was fascinated by the range of options I found. I e-mailed each of them to my dad, giving him pros and cons, and suggesting he check a number of local places that do not publish their items online.
My dad went with the rhinestone Juko, as one my mom could wear for everyday sparkle, and another one, sourced locally – a wide bow similar to the Piera, only made of solid coral silk. She was wowed by both, and certainly has more than one to choose from now, depending on her mood or the occasion.
{As a sidebar, if you have an iPhone and love shopping as much as I do, I highly recommend the ShopStyle app. You can seamlessly browse items from multiple retailers and brands at once, sorted by filters like price, color, keyword, and others. You can build a favorites list, set up sale alerts, and e-mail items to friends. In most cases, you can buy directly too. I browse whenever I am bored, and then come back to my list any time I have extra cash or need to remember what items I liked when they were full price. Very handy, and addictive. All of the screenshots above are from the app.}
Digging a little deeper, the humble headband shows its versatility – functioning as a proxy for neck jewels, or worn in lieu of an up-do for formal occasions.
The classic concept of a headband is generally excluded from any punk vernacular, though this example by Anna P demonstrates the contrary.
Historically, headbands have popped in and out of popular culture. I would guess that their perennial consistency is thanks to their simplicity and ergonomic value, with their trending periods caused by celebrity or designer touting (e.g. Princess Diana). They join the ranks of other accessories, like ties and wristwatches, that remain evenly popular in spite of accelerating technology and rapidly evolving fashion trends at large.
Jennifer Behr is a domestic designer and producer of headbands in a variety of styles and colors. This pink lace and pearl model is whimsical and pretty…
…while this fluo pink patent skinny band is sporty and more modern.
Her designs are available for everyday prices, though they are also seen on the runway, at Fendi’s FW2011 show.
The model is wearing her ‘dinosaur‘ model, which looks to be leather stretched over studs, to create a horn effect.
I will probably never wear a headband myself, but for the softer-skinned gender, they are a worthy and diversified solution to problems of hair maintenance, jewelry, or color palette matching. For my mom, they are both function and fashionable, and for others, I’d guess the same. Before you buy a throwaway from Claire’s, take a moment to consider the options.
As an amateur stylist, I enjoy researching products for others to consider, filtered through my own aesthetic and quality standards. I may do more similar posts in the future as I recently went through the same process for a friend looking for a leather moto jacket, and for another friend in search of a new credit card case. With any fashion search, there is always a better, more pleasing alternative.
1 comment
Don’t forget about Etsy for something truly handmade and unique or even vintage. Too bad ShopStyle doesn’t throw Etsy into their mix.
There are a crap-ton of baby and big ugly knit ones to sort through, but you can find some beautiful and practical pieces.