The cowboy look is usually the prevailing fashion trend at the Interior Provincial Exhibition, but this year a new fad might be taking over. Beautifully crafted and colourful headpieces can be seen attached to women’s hair all over the IPE.
“The trend has definitely been growing since the royal wedding. It really blew up,” said Kate McFarland, fascinator fabricator.
McFarland was asked by the IPE one month ago to set up a fascinator booth at the fair. They wanted help with their goal of setting a Guinness World Record for the most people wearing fascinators at one event.
Typical fascinators can include just about anything, but most commonly feathers, lace, leaves, flowers and ribbon.
“We’re really focusing on the flowers,” said McFarland, trying to keep with the 112th IPE theme ‘Come for a bloomin’ good time.’
McFarland, born and raised in Vernon, has been making fascinators for about a year now, but has been crafting for much longer.
“I have a booth at the farmer’s market on Mondays and Thursdays,” she said, and once the market closes in October she plans to hit the winter craft fair circuit.
Not only is McFarland selling fascinators at her booth, but there is also a do-it-yourself table where she can help you make your own.
“Everyone has been doing really well,” she said, adding that although it is mostly women coming into her booth, a few men have been dragged in as well.
“The response has been really good so far. I think (the booth) is in a good spot, that probably helps.”
“I think they (fascinators) are just great,” said Jacqueline Salinas, longtime fan of the IPE.
“I bought mine here,” she said of the tall feather-adorned fascinator attached to her hair.
“I really liked the feathers, and it was really easy to put in.”
Salinas was told about the fascinator theme about a week before the fair, and decided she wanted to buy one. Had she known about it before she left her home in Hawaii she would have made her own.
“I grew up in Vernon,” she said. “I came back to see friends and family, but mostly for the fair of course.”
McFarland’s pre-made fascinators cost, on average, between $25 and $40, and she also makes custom orders if someone has a specific idea in mind.
Anyone who wants to make their own at the fair can do so for $2.
The opening day of the IPE saw 16,897 guests at the fair.
“It was a great start,” said IPE general manager Bryan Burns, in terms of attendance. “I think it was our second best Wednesday ever.”
