The Best Flower Crowns of All Time
Few devices have actually aroused such commentary, for and versus, than the flower crown, so trendy of late amongst the neo-hippie festival crowd. Despite critics, these decorative headpieces, whose history in folklore and art can be traced back to ancient civilizations, show no indications of fading from favor.
In agrarian societies, connected to the land and the seasons, flower crowns had terrific symbolic meaning. Used for ceremonial and useful reasons, they might illustrate status and achievement (see Olympic olive wreaths). Full of 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 easy "nation" life (longed for, in an elegant version, by Marie Antoinette) and significantly appreciated for its ornamental value. While bride-to-bes continued the ceremonial customs of flower-wearing, it was the earth-mother hippies who have most affected the accessory's existing incarnation. 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 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 fashion flock at the same time. In honor of the summer solstice, an inspiring appearance back at flower crowns throughout history.
In agrarian societies, tied to the land and the seasons, flower crowns had excellent symbolic meaning. With increasing Check This Out industrialization, the flower crown ended up being a romantic sign of the basic "country" life (longed for, check over here in an elegant version, by Marie Antoinette) and progressively valued for its decorative worth. Finding themselves partying rather than raking, these flower children would truss their slept-in hair with wildflowers to represent their connection to nature.