The Very Best Flower Crowns of All Time

Couple of accessories have actually aroused such commentary, for and against, than the flower crown, so stylish of late among the neo-hippie celebration crowd. In spite of critics, these decorative headpieces, whose history in mythology and art can be traced back to ancient civilizations, reveal no signs of fading from favor.



It's an appearance that has roots. In agrarian societies, tied to the land and the seasons, flower crowns had terrific symbolic meaning. Used for practical and ritualistic reasons, they might show status and accomplishment (see Olympic olive wreaths). The language of flowersand herbs was widely known, with each carrying its own significance. ("There's rosemary, that's for remembering. Please keep in mind, love. And there are pansies, they're for thoughts," states Ophelia in Hamlet.) Loaded with significance, flower headdresses were woven into the social and sartorial customs of destinations as remote as Russia and Hawaii.



With increasing industrialization, the flower crown became a romantic indication of the simple "nation" life (longed for, in an elegant variation, by Marie Antoinette) and progressively valued for its decorative worth. While brides continued the ritualistic traditions of flower-wearing, it was the earth-mother hippies who have actually most influenced the device's current version. Discovering themselves partying rather than raking, these flower children would truss their slept-in hair with wildflowers to symbolize their connection to nature.



In still more recent years, the blossoms have even my review here taken a subversive turn on the runways, with Rodarte designers Kate and Laura Mulleavy adorning designs with burnished coronets and cast-metal petals-- and unleashing a fresh wave of flower mania among the style flock while doing so. In honor of the summer season solstice, an inspiring appearance back at flower crowns throughout history.





In agrarian societies, tied to the land and the seasons, flower crowns had terrific symbolic meaning. With increasing industrialization, the flower crown became a romantic indication of the easy "nation" life (longed for, in a stylized variation, by Marie Antoinette) and increasingly appreciated for its ornamental value. Discovering themselves partying rather than plowing, these flower kids would truss their slept-in hair with wildflowers to symbolize their connection to nature.