Birds of a Feather | Feather Trend in Fashion

Feathers have been utilized to create fashion trends in Europe for centuries. During the middle ages, they were adorned by the wealthy and used as a symbol of high social class. As the plumage trade boomed, feathers gained popularity. Aristocrats would showcase their status by waving ornate fans and wear extravagant headpieces decorated with pearls, jewels, and of course, feathers to high society events. The utilization of airy textile continued to grow in the 20th century when Yves Saint Laurent and Balenciaga began to replace fur with them to fill dresses. This gained the attention of flappers who would utilize the textile to add movement to their– at the time– provocative ensembles.

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Many celebrities have flaunted feathers in their looks over time, whether its a Bob Mackle explosive black feather headpiece that’s worn at the Oscars in 1986 by Cher, or a velvet navy hat furnished with baby blue ostrich feathers sitting effortlessly on Princess Diana’s head in the 1980s, feathers have always made a statement and sparked conversations of fashion enthusiasts. 

Today, the fringed textile is being showcased in all kinds of ways, from Las Vegas Showgirls and Victoria’s Secret Angels to jaw dropping red carpet gowns worn by stars such as Nicole Kidman, who wore an open-back baby pink dress embellished with feathers and beads from Karl Lagerfeld’s 2004 Chanel Haute Couture Show at the Met Gala earlier in May. Kidman’s dress first debuted when she wore it for an ICONIC Chanel No. 5 commercial, however, she wore it once more as a reminiscent homage to Karl Lagerfeld to embody this year’s theme. Naomi Campbell has also been seen in feathers, for her 2023 Cannes Film Festival look she wore a tart red Valentino Couture cutout dress and elevated it with a salmon pink feathered ombre cape trailing behind her.  

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Here are some luxury pieces to take your wardrobe to the next level:

Givenchy Mini Kenny Bag in Silk with Feathers $3950 Via Givenchy

LouLou Georgina Mini Dress $1,237 Via LouLou

Oscar De la Renta Marabou Feather Faille Cocktail Dress $6,990 Via Oscar De la Renta

Stuart Weitzman Plume 100 Sandal $298 via Stuart Weitzman

Gilda & Pearl Silk Marabou Feather-Trimmed Diana Robe $453 via Harrods

Mach & Mach Feather Trimmed Satin Sandal $1,080 via Saks Fifth Avenue

Miu Miu Cashmere Miniskirt with Feathers $1,990 via Miu Miu