Wendy Brandes Jewelry Blog

Never Is the Next New Thing

Stuck a Feather in Her Hair

by

More peacocks! This hairclip is $62 at Shopbop.


Shopbop describes it as “So Stevie Nicks circa 1979,” but to me it’s “So Mahwah High School circa 1982.” I guess we were behind the times.

The Shopbop version is all snazzy, with a plastic comb-like clip. That’s not how it was originally done! Back in the day, the part that you stuck in your hair was a metal roach clip. The ones going for $15 on Etsy look more like the real thing.


The Etsy seller doesn’t seem to have peacock feathers though. All the chic roach-clip wearers held out for peacock feathers.

You might also like
Speaking of Shelly Duvall*
(G)Love Is All Around
Making Up in L.A.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. My grandmother bought me a roach clip. Lavender feather — it was hot! She had no idea what she was buying for me (actually, I didn’t understand it until I was older)…

  3. WendyB, I just saw a commercial for tomorrow’s Celebrity Family Feud. Ice-T is going to be on it, but I couldn’t get a quick enough look at the women with him to tell if one of them was your favorite of all time, Coco.

    And just now some black latex leggings danced all over the stage on Nashville Star on one of the members of Danity Kane.

    The way I see it, being a fan of your blog just might bring me all the way into the 21st century! Do you think there’s hope?

  4. Holy crap! I need to clear my calendar, Lynette. Yeah, I’m dragging you kicking and screaming into the modern era. RESISTANCE IS FUTILE!

  5. Wow. Takes me right back to the Wisconsin State Fair circa 1980, when I bought my own cool hair accessory.

  9. Ok the feathers thang needs to be over! What’s with the porn photo – buy feathers and get f***** look!
    I’m worried about the Marilyn picture – is it a poltergeist warning buy these and you’ll end up on the other side with me?

  11. i’ve never tried something like this, but it looks really neat in the hair!

  12. Unless there’s a cockatoo perched on her shoulder and she’s in a pair of festooned platform boots, Stevie Nicks it is not! I’m running hot mad when people evoke the wonder of 70’s Stevie and can’t even get the mood right…now get my assistant and her straw!

  13. I’m so ambivalent about that hairclip, it must be all the bad hair metal memories it evokes – but that Zang peacock vest, wow,i’d walk around the apartment in that every day and torture the cats.

  14. Oh, that feather clip takes me back. I had a babysitter who had spiky short hair, but with a looooong tail in back. In my blind, 4th grade worship of her, I chopped my long, wavy, down-to-my-butt chestnut mane … except for a looooong tail in back. My dad has never let me forget it.

    I saw Stevie Nicks interviewed for the new(ish) Tom Petty documentary. She’s got old-broad hair now. I cried a little when I saw it.

  15. pretty sure that won’t work with short hair, but peacock feathers would be pretty damn cool.

  16. Ahhh, the old roach clip. This brings back memories. No one I knew ever used the roach clip for it’s intended function. They clipped them in their hair instead.

  17. OMG – I totally remember roach clips. The dead heads would clip them to their rear view mirrors. Ah, yes. Those were the days.

  19. boo, I just chopped off my locks so I can’t rock that look. Speaking of hair–I saw your article in Allure while I was waiting at the salon!

  20. The roach clips thinngs pull the hairs like crazy, if Miss J recollects. Anything for glam.

  22. Wendy. .this is such a gorgeous find. I’m wishing I could justify another accessory purchase and am now wondering if I could make it on my own soon enough. Love the entire idea of peacock feathers. Guess it appeals to the schemas of vibrant, colorful. . and vain– i.e. every woman’s prerogative.

  23. I can’t wear the feather…my hair is not long enough to pull that look off. But it’s nice to see the roach clip has made a return.

  26. hmmm i cant decide how i feel about it. also, after all this time, shall we exchange links?

  27. If it’s not a roach clip it doesn’t count. I had blue and white feathers and purple and blue feathers.

    I also had no idea at the time what a roach clip was really used for!

  29. This is a very summer trend, I see it all the time when the sun is starting to shine

  30. Coco speaks! Celebrity Password just started out here in Portland. Ice T’s family is playing against Joan Rivers’ family! Ice T’s first answer was bleeped!

  32. Lawdy, Lynette! I missed it! Hopefully someone will put it on YouTube. I’m so proud of Ice-T for getting off to a good start. He’s my favorite pimp!