Between "Downton Abbey," the Royal Wedding, and the Queen's Jubilee, we have been experiencing a serious British invasion of sorts. According to Alibaba.com, an online marketplace for businesses, there has been a jaw-dropping rise in global searches for vintage, British-inspired clothing. It's true what they say: everything old is eventually new again, and vintage, WWI-era fashion is having a major moment.
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Just how much has consumer interest piqued? Searches for vintage dresses have risen 273 percent over the past year, searches for long gloves are up 136 percent, there's been a 190 percent rise in searches for sequin headbands, and a 617 percent rise in top hat searches. A representative for Alibaba.com explained, "There has been a huge interest the 'Downton Abbey' wardrobe, boosting the vintage clothing industry. Period drama clothing and accessories are in fashion, and we're even seeing trends of 'Downton Abbey' parties popping up around the world, creating extra sales for small businesses in the vintage clothing industry."
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Want to get this "period drama" look, but don't have the time or cash to go vintage hunting? Check out our step-by-step directions for making your own DIY fascinator headpiece.
Materials you'll need:
• Feathers (your preference -- we chose peacock)
• Netting
• Fabric flower
• Rhinestone pendant
• Felt backing
• Hair clip
• Hot glue gun or super glue
Step 1: Glue the rhinestone pendant to the center of the flower. Press down on it while you wait for the glue to dry.
Step 2: Arrange the feathers underneath the flower. For a more dramatic flair, you can add longer and more feathers around the flower. To hold them in place, glue them to the back of the flower. Don't worry about it looking messy because the felt backing will hide all of this.
Step 3: Bunch and gather the netting so that it creates a fan shape, and place it behind the feathers. Apply glue and stick it to the flower.
Step 4: Cut the felt backing into a circle large enough to cover the back of the flower, and glue it into place. After it's dry, glue the hair clip to the felt. Keep in mind that the direction you glue the hair clip will affect how the hairpiece will look when worn.
What do you think? Would you wear the "Downton Abbey" trend in real life or just for a costume party?
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