A tiara is similar to a crown - it is a piece of headwear that is designed to show prestige and the modern use of tiaras has developed a great deal from when they were traditionally used. Tiaras are usually worn by female dignitaries typically members of the elite or royal families. The tiara used to be an indicator of power and status in a society but in the modern day it is worn more as an accessory.

The traditional version of the tiara was made of leather and was a circular item that reached all around the wearers head. And this is where the word tiara derived from. The language literally means 'high crown' and this is the role that the original tiaras played. The most dignified and important member of the society would wear them as an indicator of their improved social status.

These people often held the power to make the important decisions that affected the community and they would preside over the courts of law. At this time the tiara was not covered in jewels and it was not made out of metal. Instead it was made out of leather and was adorned with feathers. It was only later that the tiara was decorated with intricate jewels.

The way in which the tiara was decorated has developed a great deal from its simple beginnings as a piece of leather. As mentioned the tiara was initially adorned with feathers and other such like materials but in some cultures the tiara was dressed up with horns and it was this type of design that lead to the tiara developing into a more conical shape that is familiar to the tiaras that you see nowadays. The horns that were added to the tiaras were done so to signify authority and it wasn't until Persian times that jewels replaced these natural decorations.

The tiara is a formal hat that is still worn by the top people in the Roman Catholic Church. Until recently the tiara was on the Holy See coat of arms and previous Popes have worn the Papal Tiara at extremely important occasions. The Papal tiara is so prestigious that it is worn very rarely and is an indicator that there is something incredibly important going on. It is the highest of all of the ceremonial headwear in the Roman Catholic Church and is seen as a sign of great authority. This tiara has not been seen in public for a very long time.

The modern tiara is a semi circle shape that sits on the top of the wearers head. The front end of the tiara is adorned with a number of jewels and rises at the front to display an intricate pattern. These tiaras are made out of a metallic substance and are often extremely bright and catch the light. The tiara is worn by women at extremely formal occasions such as very formal meals and they are often worn by brides on their wedding day. The tiara is a recognised symbol of a princess and as a result is seen as an extremely feminine accessory. The association with royalty is an extremely appealing aspect of tiaras and is part of their universal appeal. All in all the tiara is an incredibly prestigious adornment.