Paula Beneytez, headpiece expert, reveals which one is the most versatile for winter guests: "It's elegant, flattering, and can be worn all year round"

We spoke with the founder and creative director of Marcela & Co., who reveals the season's trends to us and encourages us to lose our fear of eye-catching designs

Choosing the perfect dress for a wedding usually takes up a good part of the time we dedicate to preparing our outfit. We look for inspiration, evaluate different silhouettes, try on several designs and, when we finally find the right one, comes the time to think about the accessories. And although shoes and the bag usually top our priority list, headpieces have something special: they are capable of completely transforming an outfit, adding personality and turning something simple into a much more sophisticated look.

In the middle of the autumn wedding season and with winter celebrations getting closer, these accessories become great allies to give a special touch to our looks, whatever our age. Because you don't have to be a bridesmaid or attend a particularly solemn ceremony to be encouraged to wear one. But what designs will be worn this season? What colors are most flattering? And how to know if a fascinator, a headband or a larger volume headpiece is the right choice?

Paula Gómez Castellano with a fascinator by Marcela & Co.

To answer these questions we spoke with Paula Beneytez, designer specializing in headpieces and founder of Marcela & Co., who gives us a preview of the trends for guests and shares some tips that are worth keeping in mind before deciding.

What headpieces will be worn this season?

"I think there will be two lines: on one hand, maxi fascinators with flowers and eye-catching ornaments, and on the other, headpieces with almost no ornaments, with architectural shapes and in a single tone", she explains.
A particularly interesting duality because it allows adapting the accessory to our personality. On one hand, we find pieces with volume, flowers and details that attract all eyes; on the other, refined designs in which the silhouette takes center stage. Good news both for those who enjoy taking risks with their accessories and for those who prefer a more discreet style.

Also the materials and the color palette follow the change of season. The expert highlights "feathers, velvet, browns, wine, lilac or golds". Deep textures and colors with personality that are especially appealing during the colder months.

The secret for the headpiece and the dress to form the perfect pair

Although we fall in love with a spectacular fascinator, it is worth remembering that the goal is to achieve a balanced outfit. And that implies deciding which element we want to stand out. "The key is to choose a protagonist piece: the outfit or the headpiece. If the outfit is very eye-catching, I would opt for a simpler headpiece; if the outfit is simple, I would opt for a more sophisticated headpiece", Paula advises.

Inés Berdejo with a hat by Marcela & Co.

She also recommends not letting ourselves be carried away solely by the color combination. Among the most common mistakes she points out choosing shades that do not flatter the person wearing them just because they match the dress, or choosing pieces that are too small for fear of drawing attention, when a larger size could be more flattering.

Fascinator, headband or turban? The time of the wedding matters

Before deciding on a design, it is worth checking the invitation. The time of the ceremony dictates the accessories we can wear. According to Paula, at morning weddings "we can wear almost anything", from fascinators and headpieces to headbands with or without a veil and pillboxes, those small rounded hats that are placed on the head.
For afternoon celebrations, on the other hand, she proposes headbands without a veil, turbans and jeweled hairpins. In fact, wearing a fascinator at an evening wedding is one of the protocol mistakes she continues to observe.

Guest with a woven pillbox hat by Marcela & Co.

And who can dare with a large-scale design? Although traditionally it has been the godmothers, the mothers of the brides or the sisters of the grooms who have worn the most eye-catching pieces, the designer reminds us that any guest can do it if it is a morning wedding and of a formal nature.

The headpiece that slims and you can continue wearing after winter

Beyond fleeting trends, there are also accessories worth keeping for years. If she had to choose one, Paula would opt for a plate-shaped headpiece, "tilted, about 40 centimeters and adorned with quills" —the central rods of the feathers that are used as a decorative element—, she assures. The reason? "It is elegant, slims, and can be used all year round".

Bea. P. Fernández with a headpiece by Marcela & Co.

That said, to wear a guest headpiece correctly, the hairstyle also matters. The expert recommends supdos, low buns, ponytails or braids, and would avoid high buns, which can make placement difficult. Finally, if the wind threatens, she advises opting for a medium-sized piece secured with a headband. Because as important as finding a beautiful design is being able to enjoy the celebration without constantly watching it.