Barrettes are for grownups, too. All you need do, is look around. "We hibernate all winter," said Susan Rappaneau, owner of the Olde Thyme Shoppe in Norton, "and then we go out and want everyone to see us." Brides, teens in jeans, career women and stay-at-home mothers are adorning their locks with this sometimes sophisticated, sometimes funky line of hair fare.

Donna Kerner is professor of anthropology at Wheaton College in Norton, and teaches a first-year class entitled "Magical Hair." She covers inscription on the body and the impact of culture on concepts of beauty. "There’s quite a bit of interest in the body, and beauty and hair figure prominently from an evolutionary perspective because hair signals the health and youth of the person," she said. "From a social-cultural perspective hair is an interesting symbol because it is both living and dead, but we do all sorts of things to make it look healthy and shiny. Barrettes as an aspect of adornment would be to call attention to the wearer and their status, or to mark a significant event - this is my prom, my wedding."

Rappaneau stocks barrettes in everything from fabric to Austrian crystal. "People are just enjoying looking pretty and it doesn’t mean you have to be all dressed up," she said. "Our customer base is into dragonflies, butterflies and flowers. We have them in all kinds of colors. Two beautiful butterflies made of fabric with some glitter added to them look striking on black hair."

Rhinestones reign at details - spelled with a lowercase "d" - a boutique in Providence’s college district. "We’re very girly. We love everything girly," said Cathy Levitt who, with daughter Meredith Walantis, owns details. "We have a lot of students, but I have a lot of mothers of students, too. They love anything with butterflies and florals."

Gabrielle, a clothing store in that city, offers tapered metal barrettes with semi-precious stones, ideal for adorning a French twist, a hairstyle worn by Dora LaRue, manager and buyer. She bought a barrette about 10 years ago and it has gone everywhere with her. "I’ve lost my car keys, but I’ve never lost that barrette because I could never find another," she said. This year, however, she noticed ornate barrettes in shows and ordered some for the store. "We have done so well, so, so well," said LaRue. "Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize. It’s a must. They’re purchased by people who are wearing jeans to those going very formal."

Guyot Brothers Company, Inc.
P.O. Box 2378
20 John William Street
Attleboro, MA 02703
Phone: 508-222-2000
Fax: 508-222-3011
E-mail: info@guyotbrothers.com

Attleboro Massachusetts, the birthplace of the jewelry industry in America.