Tiaras Will Be Worn

At least they used to be, and what fun it must have been. While the idea of wearing a tiara, at least to me, is glamorous and exciting; the history of the tiara is long and emblematic.

In antiquity the tiara was a symbol of respect, adorning the mummies of royalty. The Greeks used them to adorn the heads of divine statues and priests. Tiaras were regarded as a symbol of honor, and because of their divine association, were awarded to victors of state contests. It was the Romans, men and women, who wore the tiara to indicate social position, as well as rank and honor.

Jumping ahead about 2000 years of tiara wearing to modern history, the Edwardians, in my opinion, wore the tiara best. From the turn of the 20^th century until the outbreak of the First World War, tiaras were worn for all sorts of occasions where they were previously not seen. The fashionable Pompadour hairstyle easily accommodated a tiara and many women were having their family jewelry re-set into tiaras. The light, open platinum mountings were set with diamonds in delicate yet dramatic designs predominantly of the “garland style” which was so popular. French jewelry maker’s had a tremendous impact on this style. Chaumet’s salon in Paris at that time had a display wall of tiaras that looked strikingly like a display of jeans that one might see at the Gap today; a tiara for every body type and occasion. While I hold out no hope of bringing the tiara back, one might remember to add an extra piece of jewelry or change your stainless steel watch for Grandma’s diamond watch the next time you head out for the evening.