In 19th Century Europe, they started out as plumes on gigantic hats of wealthy old women as they sat craning their powdered necks on horse-drawn carriages. According to Wikipedia, commercial farming of ostriches for their feathers began in Oudtshoorn in South Africa, when farmers there realised its potential for bringing in the big bucks. It didn't take long for the feathers to stop fluttering, though, quite possibly with the tottering away of the carriages themselves. Ostrich feathers are back — with a vengeance, if it can be so said. This time in forms much bolder and conspicuous than an ostrich feather boa stuck in a milliner's invention. Starting from the Costume Institute gala at New York's The Metropolitan Museum of Art last month to the Cannes film festival, feathers have been flying everywhere lately.
The blue ostrich feather mini dress that model Anja Rubik wore at the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS event on the sidelines of the film fest at Cannes was possibly the best showcase for the trend. Not the dress' fault that it got slightly eclipsed by the lady's stilettos — diamond, sapphire and rubellite-studded with rose gold chains, which came courtesy a Giuseppe Zanotti and Chopard collaboration.
At the same event, Bar Rafaeli shimmered in a Roberto Cavalli champagne gown that came with a feather hem, while Courtney Love opted for a net-and-feather dress with front bow detail from Givenchy Haute Couture. Mallika Sherawat, meanwhile, carried off an Alexander McQueen ostrich feather-fronted creation. Not to forget Uma Thurman, who cut the ribbon to Cannes' ostrich feather madness with a white Versace beauty.
Prior to this, the Costume Institute gala at the Met, in several ways adhered to the theme of this year's exhibition — “Savage Beauty”. Liv Tyler gave Stella McCartney a break and chose to don a degradé Givenchy gown with a feather hemline. (She also happens to be the face of Givenchy.) Serena Williams — fascinator, et al — wore an all-white Oscar de la Renta ostrich feather gown with embroidered bodice. Charlie's Angel Lucy Liu went for all-black, in a feather-and-chiffon Vionnet gown from the label's Autumn/ Winter 2011-12 collection.
