Fashion Moment- Flower Crowns

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.

Not all of us will be able to afford the plane ticket to see Kahlo’s wardrobe exhibited this winter in Mexico, but we can all- Despite its somewhat shallow exterior- adorn our flower crowns with pride in remembrance of Frida, the first alternative fashion icon.