The Finest 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.



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 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 keeping in mind. Please remember, love. And there are pansies, they're for ideas," says Ophelia in Hamlet.) Filled with significance, floral headdresses were woven into the sartorial and social traditions of locations as far-off as Russia and Hawaii.



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 value. While bride-to-bes continued the ceremonial customs navigate here 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 have a peek at these guys symbolize their connection to nature.



In still more recent years, the flowers 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 season 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 industrialization, the flower crown ended up being a romantic sign of the basic "country" life (longed for, in an elegant variation, 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.