Fascinator fascination? Tiny hats loom large for royal wedding watchers

Millions of peoplewill watch Prince Harry and Meghan Markle'swedding this Saturday, including those who will tune in specifically to check outthe high fashion of those in attendance.

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One of the fashion trends among Royal Family buffs that's seen a huge resurgence in recent years is fascinators, which are those little hats populaized by the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton.

"The main different between a fascinator and a hat is that they do have a fastener of some type, so they're actually attached tothe head," fascinator aficionado and royal superfanCrystal Rose told the Corner Brook Morning Show.

"They're smaller than a hat, worn on the front or right side of the head and usually very whimsically decorated."

Thedecorations could include feathers, pearls, rhinestones andfake flowers, and can be attached to the head with a headband, clip or even a comb that goes through the hair.

What's old is new again

According to Rose, fascinators have been around since the 1950s, but onlyentered the mainstreamin 2011 when Prince William married Kate Middleton, who'soften seen in public with one of the tiny hats atop her royal head.

Princess Diana wore them too, but not to the same extent as Middleton.

"They're really favoured by the younger royals and a lot of the younger members of the aristocracy in England," Rose said.

"They think of a hat as more old fashioned. You know, the Queen wears hats and so a lot of the younger people like Kate Middleton were wearing fascinators and really popularized them."

Little hats, big price

As with most royal fashions, fascinators worn by those who stroll the halls of Buckingham Palace often come with a hefty price tag.

Milliners, professionalhat makers, used by theRoyal Family can get more than $10,000 for some of their custom made fascinators but Rose's collection is a little more modest than that.

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Insteadof hitting up the top designers in London, Rose instead goes to more modest shops when she's travelling and has built up a collection of nearly 20 since her first one in 2011.

While Rose does indeed have a wedding watch party planned for early Saturday morning, these days she will wear her fascinators anytime the opportunity presents itself.

"A fascinator is acceptable usually any place where a hat is required for the dress code. But it's perfectly acceptable to wear a fascinator to high tea, to a daytime reception I've worn them to restaurants," she said.

"I love the tradition of wearing hats and fascinators. I think that's what really draws me to them, it reminds me of another era."