Last fall, I got the shock of a lifetime when a celebrity I was interviewing informed me she had read my recent story on the “prom queencore” trend. “Are we really wearing tiaras, like, in the day to day?” she asked me (a little rudely, honestly). According to accessory designer Jennifer Behr and British Vogue contributor and all-around fabulous person Julia Hobbs, the answer is yes. The pair has just dropped a collection of what they’re calling “Everyday Tiaras,” a range of three crystal-encrusted headbands to wear running errands, to the office, and for a night on the town.

“Over the last decade, I’ve witnessed a shift away from saving precious pieces for ‘best’. The whole point of seeking out rare vintage ‘grails’ is to incorporate them into a more casual everyday look, and the added flex is daring to wear a piece of fashion history with ripped jeans and flip flops,” Hobbs said of the collection. “I love the idea of reinterpreting the iconic Jennifer Behr bridal tiara as a piece which can be worn every day, without a special occasion.”

The tiaras come in three styles: The Lily, a “morning after the night before” style and the sparkliest of the bunch set with fine Austrian crystals; The Julia, a swirly and subtle tiara set with black crystals; and The Elodie, an Art Deco-inspired showstopper. The pieces range from $495-$825, and have already been spotted on celebs like Suki Waterhouse, Lily Allen, and Alexander Skarsgård.

As a lifelong girly girl, I’ve always been drawn to tiaras, both in a princess way and more ironic takes a la Hole’s Live Through This album cover. I’ve always loved the idea of wearing a tiara out in a very ’90s party girl way, like Olivia Rodrigo’s recent birthday look, but have been a little too scared to try—this collection dropping was just the push I needed. I opted for The Julia, as the rounded shape is really different from your classic Claire’s tiara, and the black stones felt the most subtle of the bunch.

So, in the name of journalism, I wore the everyday tiara for a week to see just how everyday it was.

A Night Out

I eased myself in by wearing the tiara on a night out. I had a lot on the agenda—a pregame with friends, an early DJ set at Elsewhere, and then finishing off the night at a dive bar. I paired the crown with my usual going-out uniform—tiny mini skirt, leather jacket, vintage boots—and thought it went nicely. I was a little nervous to debut the accessory, but my friends hyped me up and insisted I didn’t look weird. We arrived at the club just as Danny L Harle took to the stage, so no one was really looking at me. However, my friend Will said I was dancing more “posh” than usual, surely thanks to the tiara. That said, it is very comfortable and lightweight (and stayed put despite my hair whipping).

Once we arrived to the bar, I was much more aware of the glimmering headband. I def got some looks, even in the dim lighting. As we were taking over a table, a girl asked me “Is it your birthday?” Which I was expecting. When I said no, I was just experimenting, she replied “Oh, well when I wear a crown I get a lot of attention.” I wanted to die, and put the tiara in my purse for the rest of the night, only to pull it out for the photo booth. I think it really made the photos, which otherwise came out quite bad.

Out to Dinner

After that harrowing experience, I was scared to put the tiara back on for a casual dinner with a friend. This time, I went super simple with my outfit, and wore a black t-shirt, my favorite jeans, a studded belt, and my furry Charlotte Simone jacket. I really wish I was doing this experiment during the summer, as I think it would be much more fun to wear with some little dresses.

Building up my strength, I put the crown on once we were settled at our table. This time, when asked if it was my birthday, I said “yes” (lying). I was scared they would try to bring me a dessert with candles, but fortunately, we shut that down pretty quickly. The cake would have been nice, but I don’t even like that much attention on my actual birthday.

The Office

I was dreading this day the most. The rest of the team was working from home when I came in, so I had no one to joke with or hype me up. I paired the tiara with a casual cardigan and yet again, my favorite jeans. To be totally honest, I kept it on for only about 15 minutes since I felt so silly sitting there alone. However, I really like how it looks with my hair up in a messy bun, and I wish I had styled it that way more.

Sunday Errands

This outfit actually felt the most accurate to how Hobbs intended the tiaras to be styled. I woke up just a liiiiitle hungover, threw on a sweater and jeans and put my hair in pigtail braids. But the real magic came when I put on my fur coat and favorite oversized Bonnie Clyde sunglasses. The combo always makes me feel a little famous, which was amped up even more by the tiara. My girlfriends loved it, and they gave me compliments as we grabbed coffee, bopped around Bushwick, and grabbed a few essentials. I definitely got a few stares (no one asked if it was my birthday, thank God), but that could also be because of the full photoshoot we staged on the street and the subway. Also worth pointing out: the Julia’s black stones are truly stunning when they twinkle in the sun’s light.

My Final Thoughts

To be me is to be at constant war with myself. I am fascinated by party girls, but am too sleepy to be one myself, no matter how much I might want to be. I love the fantasy of high fashion and see clothes as art, but I usually find myself dressing in comfy basics. And so, as much as I would like to be someone who wears a tiara on the daily, this exercise has taught me I am not cut out for the stares or conversation that brings my way.

I will say, I think the tiara itself is really gorgeous. The Julia looks like something out of a fairytale, and I love the subtle edge the black stones bring to the delicate shape. It’s super lightweight, and more comfortable than the CBK-style headbands I’ve also been trying to force myself to wear for a year. I would love to wear one to a birthday party or special event, but it doesn’t gel super well with my current closet or lifestyle. I do think part of this was due to the winter weather—while it looked great with my fur coat for running errands, it would look even better with a skimpy slip dress at one of the many birthday parties on my summer schedule.

Perhaps ironically, my favorite way to wear the tiara was around the house, for a dose of fantasy while I cleaned my room or called my mom. And isn’t that actually what Hobbs intended? It doesn’t get anymore everyday than that.