The Very Best Flower Crowns of Perpetuity

Few devices have excited such commentary, for and against, than the flower crown, so fashionable of late among the neo-hippie festival crowd. In spite of detractors, these ornamental 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 excellent symbolic meaning. Worn for ritualistic and practical factors, they could highlight status and accomplishment (see Olympic olive wreaths). The language of flowersand herbs was popular, 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.) Full of significance, flower headdresses were woven into the social and sartorial customs of destinations as far-off as Russia and Hawaii.



With increasing industrialization, the flower crown ended up being a romantic sign of the easy "country" 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 actually most influenced the device's current version. Finding themselves partying instead of plowing, 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 amongst the style flock in the process. In have a peek here honor of the summer season solstice, an inspiring appearance back at flower crowns throughout history.





In agrarian societies, connected to the land and the seasons, flower crowns had fantastic symbolic significance. With increasing industrialization, the flower crown became a romantic indication of the simple "nation" life (longed for, in an elegant version, by Marie Antoinette) and significantly appreciated for its ornamental worth. Finding themselves partying rather than raking, these flower children would truss their slept-in hair with wildflowers to represent their connection to nature.