Final piece of work for uni before Christmas-
Flower crowns may not be the most urbane of trends, but what
started as Frida Kahlo unknowingly shaping Mexican fashion in the early
twentieth century with her ethereal floral headpieces and trademark mono-brow has
bloomed into one of the most obnoxious accents adorned throughout the century.
Despite the connotation of 15-year-old topshop princesses
swaying to mediocre indie bands at their first festival experience, downing
cheap cider and trying with little success to recreate the atmosphere of the
summer of love, there’s no denying the never dwindling popularity of the
frivolous accessory.
Reaching its peak during the hippie revolution, and worn by
everyone from your average acid head Woodstock reveler to 60s folk sweetheart Joni
Mitchell, who went as far to note the accessory much later than its flower
child heyday in 1991 release The Only Joy
in Town. The questionable style of what is essentially a stooped up Alice
band has caught the attention of the internets own love child, Tavi Gevinson.
Although Tavis’ adaptation may seem more Drew Barrymore in 90s
flick Best Men than surrealist
painter Kahlo, whose flowers were said to disguise the pain and anguish so
famously featured in her self-portraits, Gevinson’s flower crown tutorial on
online magazine rookie has inspired a whole generation of tweens to emulate her
iconic look.
For a trend firmly rooted in street style and culture, the
flower crown has had its fair share of catwalk fame. Vivienne Westwood’s red
label S/S13 features the somewhat obscure combination of 40s inspired
headdresses- more reminiscent of your grandma’s rain hat than couture- spruced
up with, you guessed, flower crowns in place of the more traditional pin curl.
With Celebrities such as Alexa Chung and the more questionable Lana Del Ray
championing the look, it’s unlikely to fade any time soon.
