Kate Middleton - new icons womens fashion trends 2011

Prince William’s bride-to-be Kate Middleton exudes royal style from her head to her toes. Kate seems to have a special liking for one special hair accessory — the Fascinator, a younger, more modern version of a hat, which is typically an ornate hair accessory that can feature feathers, beads, flowers and other fancy trimmings.

Retailers in the UK said that sales of fascinator head pieces have risen 65% and thousands have been sold in Harvey Nichols and Selfridges in the six months since the wedding announcement. Kate Middleton, who has brought fascinators back en vogue in the UK, is getting credit for making the feathered “Fascinator” headwear a must-have in the United States.

Fascination over the Fascinator is growing in the United States, with Google searches up 50% for this style of hat since January.

Kate has worn fascinators on several different occasions, showing women that this is a great accessory that can change up their look. There is no denying that fascinators look so elegant on her.

Fascinator sales have soared recently at Cedar Park, Texas-based Serendipity Tiaras, an online seller and supplier of bridal accessories such as veils, broaches, tiaras and fascinators to bridal boutiques.

“Orders are coming in from all over but most are from California, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania,” said Serendipity Tiaras owner Lauren Logan.

In the United States, brides tend to prefer headbands, veils and tiaras. The jump in fascinator orders thus caught Logan by surprise.

In fact, at Serendipity Tiaras, fascinator sales have now trumped orders for tiaras, considered to be the traditional wedding headpiece.

“Orders are coming in for all kinds of feathered fascinators. Customers also want fascinators with a small spray of flowers, tulle or with a hat,” she said.

Logan said prices for her China-made fascinators range from $35 to $100. As demand heats up, Logan said some of her styles are on backorder but promises to fulfill each order as quickly as she can.

David’s Bridal, the nation’s largest seller of bridal gowns and accessories used to sell fascinators but only in select stores.

“Demand is up now so we’re making sure we have more of them in stock and we now sell them in all of our stores,” said Dan Rentillo, the company’s design director.

“We are capitalizing on the sudden popularity of fascinators,” said Rentillo.

“In the past, the fascinator was perceived to be an older look,” Rentillo said.”Kate, who is such a style icon, is showing that younger people can pull it off and have fun with it.”

In the United States, fascinators are now seen popping up at parties and other events.