Factors to consider when choosing a tiara

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Over the last few years, the tiara has rapidly redefined itself. No longer considered to be an aristocratic heirloom associated exclusively with Royal Weddings, the tiara has become a mainstay of bridal fashion. However, with the vast array of different styles and colours currently available, it is perhaps advisable to bear the following points in mind when selecting a tiara.

HAIR STYLES & TYPES One of the commonest mistakes to make when selecting a head-dress is to dismiss a design as too small, too bulky, too high etc. without even trying the headpiece on. Often a tiara which looks absolutely terrible on display in a shop can look fantastic in your hair. The reverse can also apply. I have known several brides select a tiara which they feel would perfectly complement their wedding ensemble only to discover that their hairstyle is entirely unsuitable for the design. A particular case which springs to mind is that of a friend who wanted a very simplistic, minimal fuss wedding ensemble and chose a simple five-arched pearl tiara. Admittedly, in theory, this tiara perfectly matched the concept of the wedding; in reality, because the bride had layered, wavy hair, the tiara clung to her head with hair protruding above and below and created an effect perhaps best described as "the bridal pineapple"!!! The problem was solved by introducing a graduated tiara design which sat perfectly in the mass of hair, although the head-dress looked huge out of context. It's therefore a good idea to try on several different shape tiaras to see what suits your hair type; it's also wise to have a rough idea of how you propose to wear your hair on your wedding day. You'll probably find it helpful to take some basic hair accessories with you when you try on tiaras so that you can tie your hair back, or roughly pile it on top of your head to get a better idea of how the final effect will look. Remember also that on your wedding day, unless you go for a very sleek style, your hair will probably be raised higher than your expectations of the day itself so if you've been rushing around town all day having let your hair "dry naturally" in the morning on the day that you try on tiaras, it is hardly surprising that a certain headpiece seems too high. Although it might seem obvious, it is important to remember that your tiara is meant to complement your wedding hair, not overshadow it. A basic guideline to follow is that the more complicated your hairstyle, the simpler your tiara and vice versa. Generally, sleek straight hair in good condition looks good with a striking or unusual tiara whilst elaborately dressed hair is more effective with a simpler design. Another point to bear in mind is that a fuller hair style, particularly curly hair, can generally take the larger tiara designs.

COLOUR CONSIDERATIONS Although tiaras are available in a whole variety of colours, designs more generally fall into one of the following categories: pearls, crystals, or metallic shades. There are no hard and fast rules governing which colour schemes to choose but a few guidelines do exist. If you are wearing a cream or ivory dress, a gold or cream pearl tiara will maintain the general colour scheme, whilst silver, white pearl and crystal accessories better enhance the cool, winter tones of a pure white wedding gown. Hair colours will no doubt have been considered when choosing overall colour schemes, but you should certainly not choose a tiara which clashes violently with your hair colour. Platinum blonde hair can look stunning with winter white and crystal designs, as can sleek dark straight hair, whilst reddish and light brown shades can look spectacular with cream pearls and gold or copper accessories. A tiara often provides an excellent opportunity to incorporate a chosen colour scheme into your wedding ensemble. A wonderfully co-ordinated look can be achieved when the tiara is made to echo the colours of the wedding flowers or the bridesmaids' outfits. Pearls and swarovski crystal are now available in a wonderful spectrum of colours to contrast with a backdrop of natural pearls or plated metallic wire. The design possibilities are endless, although it is advisable to stick to one or two colours for a classy effect. Generally, reds, golds, bronzes, creams and topaz shades work well together. In direct contrast, blues, whites, silvers and crystal shades are also favourable combinations. A classic mistake to avoid is the mixture of autumnal and winter shades, although some unlikely combinations can look equally fetching. There are always exceptions to the rule, however, and lilacs, dark blues, greens and of course, amber are all shades which can look equally spectacular with both silver and gold, white and cream pearls. Make up should always feature amongst your list of colour considerations. Although the current trend is for the natural look, if you are aiming for a theatrical effect with more ambitious make up, take care to ensure that any colours incorporated in your tiara do not clash with eye-shadow or lipstick shades.

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS It's always important to bear in mind that you will be wearing your tiara either with or without a veil for the entire wedding day. You might therefore like to consider how the weight of the tiara you have chosen will be distributed over your head and in particular, how the tiara will be fixed in place. Many tiaras have strategically placed loops or combs incorporated into the base which can then allow your hairdresser to fix it into position with hair pins and kirbi-grips. Tiara bases can vary considerably from a wide alice-band style, to a rigid metallic structure. Unless specifically designed, tiaras do not tend to be worn in the same style as an alice-band, but rather slot into the hairstyle and sit in place on the head as would a crown. For this reason, rigid metal bases are perhaps best avoided with sleek long hair worn down because the rigidity of the base may not exactly match the profile of the head leaving unsightly spaces. Perhaps the most versatile type of base is one made of covered wire which will enable your hairdresser to ensure that the tiara fits close to your head if you have chosen this sort of style. An additional factor to bear in mind is your veil. High front tiaras can look superb against a full veil, but this is by no means the only option. Veils attached underneath an elegant bun can be beautifully finished off by a simple coronet. When it comes to the design of the tiara, options are endless. Arches, pillars, sun rays, floral motifs, crazy wire-work and fountain styles are just a few of the designs currently in vogue. These can consist of pearls, crystal, beads, liquid gold and silver, paper and silk flowers and can be combined together to achieve amazing effects. Tiaras can rise to a central point, continue at the same level all the way around or can be stylishly asymmetric. Motifs can be assigned with exacting regularity or can be dispersed at random against a more generalised framework. A continuous coronet style can create a highly regal effect, whilst a minimalist single colour tiara can look equally effective .Tiaras are not only for the bride: simpler versions of a bridal tiara worn by attendants can give a co-ordinated look to the whole wedding party. Finally, it's always worth asking if you can't find exactly what you are looking for. Many tiara designers offer a commission service which doesn't have to eat up half your wedding budget. Often you will like several features of a few different tiaras and you'd be surprised how easily these features can be combined into a tiara of your choice. Above all, have fun when you're shopping for your tiara - your wedding is one of the few occasions where you'll have the opportunity to wear such an accessory, so make sure you enjoy the experience!!!

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