The Complete Handbook of Fascinators

Finally, a reference book that treats fascinators like a serious technical product instead of a pretty accessory. The chapter on frame materials alone saved me from a bad batch of wholesale purchases—I had no idea the gauge of millinery wire varied that much before reading this. It’s not a picture book, but the data is exactly what I need on my workbench. My clients have noticed a difference in the pieces I’m sourcing, and I’m a more informed buyer at the trade markets now. Well worth the price for anyone professional in this space.

The information is solid, and I appreciate that it doesn't read like a fashion magazine. I learned a lot about the difference between various sinamay brands. However, I found the opening chapter a bit too dense for what it is; the history lesson at the start felt like padding, and I was hoping for more photographs or diagrams. I have a background in sewing, so some of the construction explanations were rudimentary for me. It’s a good reference, but I had to skim parts to get to the specifications.

I bought this to help me start a small rental business, and the business chapter was quite helpful in outlining realistic margins. That said, the book is weighed down by technical details about adhesives and wire that I will likely never use. The chapter on attachment methods is excellent and very practical for styling clients. I was looking for a quick-start guide, and this is more of a textbook. I’ve kept it on my shelf, but I use it sparingly; it’s a reference, not a read-through book.

This is the definitive handbook I wish I had a decade ago when I began doing millinery repair. The troubleshooting chapter alone is worth the price; I finally have a logical procedure for fixing bent frames without breaking the sinamay. It’s completely unbiased and technical, which is incredibly refreshing. I’ve now bought a copy for my assistant, and we use the definitions in the glossary to make sure we’re on the same page when discussing repairs with clients. A must-have for any serious hobbyist, not just professionals.

Strong reference material, but it uses no photos, which limits it somewhat. The technical specs are spot on, and the advice on choosing the right size clip for different hair thicknesses actually solved a problem I was having with my own designs. I just wish the section on future trends was longer; the talk about sustainable materials was interesting but felt like an appetizer. I’m docking one star because I read mostly on my tablet, and the PDF renderer mentioned in the preface made the text look a bit quirky on my device. Still, I keep going back to it.