{"id":17514,"date":"2021-03-16T19:35:06","date_gmt":"2021-03-16T19:35:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/?post_type=articles&p=17514"},"modified":"2021-03-17T12:07:01","modified_gmt":"2021-03-17T12:07:01","slug":"feather-boa-history","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/feather-boa-history\/","title":{"rendered":"A Brief History of the Red-Carpet-Famous Feather Boa"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Harry Styles performing at the 63rd annual Grammy Awards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Forever seared into my memory is one of my first grade-school birthday parties inspired by my unrivaled passion for\u00a0<\/span>America’s Next Top Model<\/span><\/em><\/a>. My friends and I packed colorful eyeshadow onto our eyes, swiped on the stickiest candy-flavored lip gloss<\/a> we could find, and completed the look with a vibrant feather boa plucked from the party aisle of the dollar store. That is the last time I ever felt the urge to drape the accessory over my shoulders, until the evening of the 63rd annual Grammy Awards, when <\/span>Harry Styles’<\/span><\/a>\u00a0custom Gucci boa turned the world on its axis.<\/span><\/p>\n

The oh-so-dramatic boa has long held perennial fascination through history. Textbooks don’t officially document the whimsical accessory’s fashion evolution, but in the 19th century, they were synonymous with high social-standing, made from ostriches, turkeys, marabou, and chandelle feathers. Per reporting by <\/span>New York Magazine<\/span><\/em><\/a>,\u00a0<\/span><\/em>fashion designer and founder of the eponymous NYC department store, Henri Bendel, claims exist to have invented the feather boa in the late 1800s, despite photo evidence dating the accessory back to the beginning to middle of the century\u2014at the height of the plume trade.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to\u00a0<\/span>Jezebel<\/span><\/em><\/a>, the death of the once-thriving plume trade was in one part due to Congress passing of the Migratory Bird Act of 1913, (which “prohibited spring hunting of migratory birds,” and another part due to the Great Depression. In the years following, boas became less alluring to everyday people and more appealing to performers who toed the line between glamorous and ironic: members of the drag community, movie stars on the big screen, and famous performers.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div><\/div><\/span>
\"Aretha<\/div>
Aretha Franklin poses for a portrait circa 1968. <\/figcaption>Credit: Michael Ochs Archives\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figure>
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Janis Joplin, photographed during the summer of 1970.<\/figcaption>Credit: John Byrne Cooke Estate\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figure>
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Elton John wearing a boa circa 1975.<\/figcaption>Credit: Michael Ochs Archives\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figure>
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Naomi Campbell at the Lloyds Fashion Awards at the end of the London Fashion Week in 1993.<\/figcaption>Credit: Neil Munns - PA Images\/PA Images via Getty Images<\/span><\/figure>
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Rose McGowan during the \"Living Out Loud\" New York premiere in 1998.<\/figcaption>Credit: Ron Galella\/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images<\/span><\/figure>
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Lara Flynn Boyle during The 56th Annual Golden Globe Awards in 1999.<\/figcaption>Credit: SGranitz\/WireImage<\/span><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n

Formerly a symbol of wealth, the feather boa adopted a theatrical, campy aesthetic in the 70s, represented by Janis Joplin, Elton John, and Aretha Franklin\u2014just to name a few. In the 90s, feather boas looked fabulously over-the-top, well-represented on the red carpet by Naomi Campbell, Rose McGowan, and Lara Flynn Boyle. During this time, they also became embedded deep in our pop culture knowledge courtesy of classics like\u00a0<\/span>Clueless, Almost Famous, Sex and the City, and Never Been Kissed<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the years since, we have yet to experience a significant feather boa resurgence \u00e0 la years past, one that’s worth noting in a future history book dedicated to the quirky trend. But that’s not to say that celebrities and performers haven’t incorporated the accessory to make a statement on the red carpet, i.e., Lizzo at the 2019 MTV VMAs and Winnie Harlow at the 2019 CFDA Fashion Awards.<\/p>\n

Flash forward to the present-day, and we wouldn’t be entirely surprised if Styles’ Internet-famous boa moment shines a light back on the always-intriguing accessory. Perhaps the 21st century will mark its return, which, you must admit, would be a hit at post-pandemic gatherings, where anything goes in terms of party-dressing. Inspired? Keep scrolling to shop <\/span>GRAZIA’s\u00a0<\/span><\/em>curated luxury edit of feather boas bound to make you stand out in a crowd.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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POLOGEORGIS OSTRICH FEATHER SCARF, $250 (REGULARLY $695) VIA POLOGEORGIS. SHOP NOW<\/strong><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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16ARLINGTON MULTIWAY FEATHER BOA SHAWL, $2,428 VIA 16ARLINGTON. SHOP NOW<\/strong><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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DRIES VAN NOTEN FEATHER-TRIMMED SCARF, $576 (REGULARLY $960) VIA MY THERESA. SHOP NOW<\/a><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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YVES SALOMON FEATHER SCARF, $210 VIA NET-A-PORTER. SHOP NOW<\/strong><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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EMILIO PUCCI FLUFFY ADJUSTABLE BELT, $610 VIA FARFETCH. SHOP NOW<\/strong><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

All products featured on GRAZIA are independently selected by our editors. 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