Behind the Veil

BLACK veils, usually reserved for religious ceremonies, goth brides and Daphne Guinness, are bringing some dramatic flair to street and cocktail dress.
In Paris, at last month’s round of fashion shows, the French designer Faustine Rome looked like a latter-day Marlene Dietrich from “Shanghai Express,” in a veiled cloche, ruffled cape (in lieu of feathers) and studded bangles (today’s pearls?).

Fred/Easy Fashion ParisA young woman wore an oversize black-cherry fascinator from the British milliner Piers Atkinson.

Another young woman wore an oversize black-cherry fascinator from the British milliner Piers Atkinson, whose quirky fruit headpieces have adorned Anna Dello Russo. Ms. Dello Russo also wore a veiled cap, a Stephen Jones design fresh off the Jil Sander runway. Come spring, the cap, shown in several colors, should be street-style fodder. For the holiday season, though, this veiled headband with a polka-dot bow from Maison Michel will make a sweet and mysterious accessory to wear with a black cocktail dress.