Weโve already embraced mermaid-inspired hair colors and accepted mermaid fins as a poolside accessory, but a new type of Neptunian trend has descended upon us โ and itโs the closest weโve ever come to being mermaid royalty.
Bid your flower crowns adieu and behold: the mermaid crown.
The ornate headpieces โ which social media has unofficially dubbed mermaid crowns โ are usually made of multicolored jewels, beads, chains and, of course, a variety of sea shells.
And Chelsea Shiels, a 27-year-old Australian florist, has mastered the art of creating them.
Although sheโs been making mermaid crowns for years, Shiels didnโt start selling them on her wildly popular Etsy site (which was previously devoted to her handmade flower crowns) until the fashion world hit peak mermaid levels last year.
Thatโs when she began posting her crowns to Instagram โ and the demand for them skyrocketed.
โThe shell crowns are completely unique, but havenโt been seen as fashionable until now,โ Shiels told Us Magazine. โI guess everyone has an inner mermaid, seeing as our generation grew up with โThe Little Mermaid.โโ
Shielsโ creations are whimsical and wearable, and theyโre giving off major Princess Ariel vibes. (If Ariel had used her new feet to frolic around summer music festivals.)
As pretty as the crowns are, getting your hands on one isnโt easy โ they sell out on Shielsโ Etsy site extremely quickly.
Of course, there are other Etsy sellers who make their own versions of mermaid crowns โ from sky-high crystal tiaras to simple shell hairpieces. Or, you can crown yourself ocean royalty with a variety of DIY videos on YouTube.
If you DIY, just remember to collect sea shells responsibly. Over-harvesting shells could damage ecosystems and some marine animals make their homes from shells. If you donโt find the shells yourself, buy them from sellers who get them from sustainable sources.
For a splash of nautical inspiration, feast your eyes on the whimsical, seaworthy tiaras below.