If you are anything like me, headbands aren’t a trend. You always have them and are always on the hunt for them, even if Blair Waldorf or the Duchess of Cambridge aren’t currently wearing them. However, when they do wear them, it makes our lives slightly easier as we don’t have hunt quite so hard to find them. And now is one of those times- adult headbands are having a moment! They are one of those accessories that can quickly look like a costume, though. These are my best tips for searching for adult headbands and using them in your wardrobe!
Although headbands come with much style baggage, I love headbands. Yes, you totally can end up like you are cos-playing Gossip Girl (a common complaint I hear), and the Alice band is stylistically controversial in the UK. However, I think it can be the perfect accessory to finish an outfit. And style aside, I like headbands for their practicality. They are an easy way to keep your hair out of your face, without having to put it in a casual ponytail. I also love them for travelling, as you can usually just throw a headband in your hair and look presentable- key for travel photos! In any case, headbands are key. So, how do you go about finding and wearing adult headbands?
Specify “Adult Headband”
If you simply search “headband” on Etsy or Pinterest, you typically get nine million crocheted baby headwarmers. If that is what you are looking for, that’s wonderful. If you are an adult looking for a headband to wear yourself, it’s slightly problematic. Wherever you are searching, either specify that you are looking for an adult headband, or filter the online store to only show you adult items. Some companies will offer the same headband for kids and adults, and there is no way differentiate on a website (if there is no model). It sounds incredibly obvious, but don’t make that mistake. (It will also save the time of scrolling through several cat ear headbands that are a costume piece.) If you are searching on Etsy or Ebay, message the seller if there aren’t measurements so you are sure of the size.
Get Creative
This is a huge shout-out to my style icon, the Duchess of Cambridge, for bringing back headbands in a big way this past year. She wore a padded, flowered headband to Prince Louis’ christening in July, and wore another on the Christmas Day walk to Sandringham. Her black velvet headband that she wore in November for a service of remembrance is possibly one of my favourite millinery pieces ever. In any case, it means that there are many more headbands available right now. They are more substantial- not as padded as the ones the DoC wears, but meatier. And you want texture? Velvet, crepe, gingham, linen, all easily found now. And embellishments? Embellishments are back. Jewels and flowers and knots, oh my! We are not tied to black or tortoise Alice bands anymore, we have options. I find that embellished headbands are perfect for more formal outfits, even at work or for cocktail parties.
Side note: if you have any DIY embellished headband tutorials that you have actually tried yourself, please let me know in the comments!
Pay Attention to Your Clothing
Now, the Blair Waldorf/Gossip Girl trap is real. A headband plus certain items of clothing and you may as well start telling people, “Yes, I do live on the Upper East Side and eat lunch on the Met steps”. So, pay attention to your clothing. And aside from avoiding wearing a pseudo-costume, headbands don’t all work with every outfit. I have literally 40+ Lululemon headbands- I’m not going to wear those to work. They clearly are for workouts, and aren’t business appropriate. (Ditto for those stretchy, zig-zag, scrape your scalp headbands from our childhoods…) And on the flip side, the pearl headband that I wear to some cocktail events is out of place for a sweatpants and hoodie walk in the dog park. Your outfit includes what is on your feet and what is on your head. and a headband is the same. Don’t assume that any headband goes, because any headband doesn’t go.
Will you be trying the trend of adult headbands?
Cheers,
The Historian
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I am so, so excited headbands are back in. My hair is layered and from a simply technical POV, headbands are the most efficient way of keeping hair out of my face. I personally lean towards fabric ones, as stiffer headbands give me headaches, but design is so important or you look like you’re going to the gym. Great post!
Thankfully I’ve kept all of my headbands, but it is SO LOVELY to finally be able to buy new ones again. Headbands are so useful, I don’t know why people don’t use them more often!! I do have to be careful, the stiff-backed ones can give me a headache, but my hair is so fine and slippery that the soft ones don’t stay on 🙁 (Aside from my Lulu headbands with grips, but those clearly are for the gym) Viva la headband!!