SO MANY TIARAS: SO LITTLE TIME! [sigh]

iaras are identified by size; small: to 1-3/4", medium: 1-2/3" to 2-2/3" and large: 2-1/2" to 3-3/4" (there are bigger; some pageant tiaras are 5 and 6 inches tall, but I think they are gross distortions), what they look like: appearance, style and shape and materials. There are other kinds of classifications like princess and bridal which seem to not mean anything in particular. But tiaras are a very visual medium and not easy to describe in words; so you can have an idea, here are some pictures and how they are called. It is often the case that tiaras are given proper names, many times, exotic female names or place names. (and besides, who would pass up a chance to look at tiaras? Drool..swoon...thump).

Style and Motif
DIAMANTINA: A large very basic tiara, it stands over 2-1/2 inches tall. The Elements appear to be petal-shapped
LYNESTRA: A medium, very basic, tiara around 2" tall. Like DIAMANTINA is a mix of pearls and rhinstones
PEARLESTRA: A large, 3-1/2" mostly pearl tiara in a classic modern motif--5-hearts, usually a bridal tiara.
FLORAL: This Audrey Hepburn tiara has crystal stones cut to look like flower petals and leaves.
ESTELINDA: The name means "Pretty Star" for the way it sparkles, like a constellation of stars. This small tiara is an example of shell and heart design.
CELTIC: characterized by a broad and flat design. This is a popular wedding tiara though. To some, it appears to wander along the band aimlessly, having neither head nor tail.
Other Styles, Kinds, and Materials
PEARLANDRA: An all-pearl, medium tiara. This one is suitable for wedding wear but can go anywhere a tiara is called for.
WIREWORK tiara: made by bending wire strands into a shape. also uses added stones and other things. These also come with gold colored wire.

FILIGREE tiara: Where the wire tiara strands are about 5 millimeters, the filigree is about twice that and not bent in place like the wire tiaras but are formed solid.

FLOWER: Different from FLORAL because they are not crystal cut to look like flowers but are made of another material and to look like real flowers.
BUTTERFLY: Named for the insect that is included in or suggested by this style. It carries som bad feelings for some for two reasons. First; a bug sitting in one's hair is, well, icky. Second: This style has two highest points, each a bit off-center. This is counter to the idea that the outline of a tiara ought lead to ONE highest point that is at the center.
Special Purpose

SPECIAL PURPOSE: Many tiaras were made for a special purpose or a once-only celebration, such as the Quinceanera tiara. It was used on a Latina girl's 15th birthday, which has special meaning. There were also Sweet 16 and other types. What do you do with these poor things after the event?

PAGEANT: What is a Miss Something-or-Other pageant without a tiara? Pageants are a way of life for some girls from the time they are 2 until they are ??. Unfortunately pageant tiaras have mutated to the point of being de trop like this whopping 4-1/2" tall beast! Hey, catch me if I tip over wearing this monster!

Tiaras?: um....sort of

"COMB TIARA": a very small piece mounted on a horizontally set comb. This is almost too small to be a tiara for a person but does go very well for a medium size doll.

HEADPIECE: The style is somewhat tiara-esque and is called Tiara. However the materials can be lace backed by stiff material, sequins or tiny "seed" pearls.

HEADBAND TIARA: This looks like a narrow metal Alice band with a tiara growing out of the top. These are real tiaras and very RARE but used to be more common in the Twentieth Century.

INEXPENSIVE TIARA: made of plastic with a usably durable metallic coating, This is usually made for little girls but with a little work can be made to fit a grownup. This is suitable for wear while playing or just because... They are not as gaudy as you might think and are available in the toy sections of stores.

CHOKER: The reason it is included here is that, according to some sources, and in fact, these can be worn as tiaras.

Tiara-NOT!
POSEURESS: You often see things like this described as tiaras. they really are no more than jumped-up Alice bands and I have even had a couple. Sometimes they will have another row of stones or designs or may be a triple band, but they are not tiaras. However, they may be good as starters for do-it-yourself tiaras.