They’re the new head-turners, literally. And they’ve caught the fancy of the fashion-forward. Fascinators or decorative headpieces have emerged as a favourite hair accessory with a host of Indian milliners showing off their flair for these perky adornments.

So how about stepping out in a fascinator that resembles a bunch of dainty rosebuds from Mumbai-based milliner Farzad Billimoria? On the other hand, if you’re feeling more adventurous, Billimoria can adorn your hair with elaborate confections made with vibrant fake butterflies. “The fascinator enhances a look like no other accessory,” declares Billimoria, whose pieces are strongly inspired by nature.

Elsewhere in the city, costume designer Isha Ahluwalia is also giving a new spin to headgear. Ahluwalia who studied at the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Mumbai, is known for her edgy fascinators. She has designed a range of them using a medley of materials such as distressed leather, metal and silk 
brocade. “A fascinator can range from the basic to the dramatic,” says Ahluwalia, who has designed the costumes for films like Dhobi Ghat.

Now, you may have seen Kate Middleton wear one on several occasions — or even have noted Kangana Ranaut step out in one back home at the Signature Indian Derby in Mumbai recently. But what is a fascinator really? Well, it’s not perched on the entire head like a traditional hat. Rather, it is a headpiece, a mini-hat even, that’s fastened to the head with hair-clips or headbands.

The whole idea of a fascinator is to be fun and quirky, and to make a statement usually at outdoor events like racing and polo, at the beach or on resort holidays, and even at destination weddings. “It’s just like a piece of jewellery. You can team it with a basic white top and blue jeans but also enliven a black dress with one,” says Ahluwalia.
Adds Billimoria: “Fascinators are really catching on these days because derbies are being talked about more than ever before.”

So, what’s hot in the fascinator design domain right now? Dip into reputed milliner Delna Poonawalla’s collection of chic fascinators and you will stop dead in your tracks. Her confections — available at her studio in Mumbai — play on butterfly and dragonfly motifs. She is also partial to geometric shapes including circles, discs, squares and ovals.
“I have also used elements like lace, prints and polka dots on the base of fascinators to add texture,” says Poonawalla, who started off by buying hats and fascinators from all over the world and bringing them to India but who now designs the pieces herself and gets them made by milliners abroad. 

Experimentation is the watchword for Maiti Shahani, a graduate of Wigan & Leigh College, Mumbai. She’s literally put everything on her fascinators from a basket laden with fish and flowers to a watering can. Not surprisingly, Bollywood divas like Alia Bhatt and Rani Mukerji have flaunted her creations. “I am inspired by everyone from Mexican painter Frida Kahlo to the women on the streets,” says Shahani.

On the other hand, Ahluwalia’s Percherie line of headgear is themed on science fiction and mythology. She has even drawn inspiration from traditional Indian hair accessories like maang tikas and the Rajasthani borla for some pieces from this 
collection. Ahluwalia’s pieces are priced between Rs 6,000 and Rs 35,000, depending on the concept and the intricacy of her design.

Even as fascinators enjoy their moment in the sun, designers caution that there are several things to keep in mind before you flaunt this edgy accessory. So, Poonawalla believes that prints and monochromatic colours pair really well with fascinators. You can even use them to create a colour block effect. “A purple dress can be paired with a red hat or fascinator for a colour block effect,” she says.

She has yet another tip. “An all-white dress or pant suit paired with a black fascinator or hat and matching heels is definitely an eye-catcher,” she says. While Poonawalla’s small fascinators are priced between Rs 2,500 and Rs 3,500, the medium-sized ones cost between Rs 6,500 and Rs 12,000, and the special ones are pegged at 
Rs 15,000 and above.

So, forget those done-to-death hats and let fascinators be your best friend this season.