Flowers are the very first jewelry that women began to use. Pretty much every nation has an accessory in the form of a flower: a red rose adorned the hairstyle of a passionate Spanish woman, exotic freesia, alstroemeria and lilies – the hair of an Indian woman, and in Russia wreaths of wildflowers were woven, which emphasized the beauty of a long girl's braid. Flowers were especially popular among aristocrats in the 18th century. To keep them fresh for longer, they put flasks with water in their tall hairstyles. Throughout the 19th century, flower and leaf wreaths were in vogue. Sometimes they included natural flowers and sometimes artificial ones made of fabric, wax or porcelain. The production of artificial flowers and bouquets was established, which outwardly differed visually only little from the real ones, cost less and served longer. Floral motifs came into fashion thanks to the influence of romantic poets and the passion of the last empress of France, Eugenie, for the era of Marie Antoinette, whose style was then imitated with fluffy dresses and hairstyles decorated with flowers and ribbons. It could be a few buds braided into the hair, or a whole wreath.
At that time, the symbolic language of flowers was very popular, with which help ladies used to express their secret feelings. It was famous in both the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. William Shakespeare used it in his plays and sonnets. But the language of flowers was most widespread in Europe in the late 18th and early 19th centuries thanks to diplomatic ties with the Ottoman Empire. It was in Constantinople, in the harem of the Turkish Sultan, that his wives and concubines perfected the art of conveying the hidden meaning with the help of flowers. This sophisticated game allowed them to communicate with the outside world. Each plant had a symbolic meaning in the language of flowers. It was not also for the flower but its colour that could be used as a message. In the 18th century, special “flower dictionaries” were published, in which meanings of certain colors and their combinations were explained. In the Victorian era, the language of flowers was also actively used to convey feelings and emotions that were not accepted to openly demonstrate due to the existing rules of etiquette. Their allegorical meaning was guided in the design of various events - inaugurations, weddings, birth of children, and so on.
Floral hair accessories have never lost their relevance. Nowadays, the choice of flower-themed hair jewelry is huge: headbands and ribbons, combs, wreaths, hairpins, tiaras and hats. After all, they can simply be woven into your hair. The classics of the genre are buds blossoming in the hair. Unity with nature has become one of the global trends in recent years against the backdrop of an impending environmental collapse. Flowers will help liven up any hairstyle, highlighting the beauty of the hair, femininity and charm of a girl or a woman who wears it. You can turn your look into passionate or innocent, sensual or gentle – the choice is yours. To create a romantic look, choose pastel-colored flowers. If you prefer a more daring style, opt for darker colors. For 10 years of existence of the BeretkAh…! brand Tatiana Ashakova has released many collections in which you can find floral-themed products made in various techniques using a variety of materials – from traditional to the most unexpected.
Style: Natalia Lime
Photo: Nadezhda Bondarenko