Having just returned from Midrealm Coronation/40th Year.....

[stitchjock]

I must be getting old and cranky -- or at least discovering new things to be old and cranky about -- because something annoyed me at this event which I don't ever remember being annoyed by to this level at any time before

Comments

[esprix]

An excellent point! I never really gave headgear much thought (but then I don't play as much as I ought).

[stitchjock]

Point taken. But where to start? I could do more than an hour on each century, especially if it were hands-on...?

[burgundysamoyed]

I am so glad you posted...That is one of the big reason's that I do hair...I saw all this beautiful garb and plain modern hair. It felt disrespectful to the clothes...and headgear plays an important role in garb as well. I have a beautiful Burgundian gown, with a truncated Henan, and without my head gear, I get stepped on all the time on the back of the gown, but with the hat and veils, it works perfectly.

love you so... and with you on this one...

[haflagirl]

I'm wondering what you mean here by "headwear." In researching the ladies of the Italian Renaissance it is found that their primary headwear was hair hats... simple to elaborate faux braids that went over their usual hair. No fabrics, kerchiefs, hats, or the like... just the hair hat.

While I agree that a head-to-toe effort is most appreciated, some of the heads did not involve hats. Hair styles indeed, but not always hats or veils. When I'm not in Middle-Eastern with my tarpus or veil, I dress Italian Ren and wear an appropriate hair hat. Does that count in your eyes or do you have some evidence that Italian Ren ladies indeed wore hats commonly?

(I know this sounds like a challenge and it's not meant to be one.... I truly want to know if you count hairstyles that are period without the hats or if you believe all heads should have hats of some kind)

[stitchjock]

I would say that headwear would go beyond hats, certainly; I apologize for what may seem to be an overly-narrowed definition. The Italian Renaissance is especially rich in headwear, but certainly not all about hats. The "hair hats" you mention are certainly in great usage; I've created a few of those over the years for friends. Actually, they're very useful for the SCA; you can get a partial or demi-wig and have it dressed so the hair is braided or wrapped close, taped or laced with ribbon or trims or jewelled, then have it stitched loosely and, if good care is taken with it, it will last for a very long time before it needs to be re-done. You can just pin your own hair back, put in a few pin curls for anchoring, then pin the hair hat on and you have an ornate hairstyle in literally a few minutes. I wish I saw more of this as it's perfectly appropriate and smart

[haflagirl]

Thanks for all the awesome hat info. I shall have to get on the research wagon again. If I may be honest, I did *just* enough research on Italian Ren to make it look good and right... not enough to fully delve into the possibilities. Italian is what I do when I get sick of doing Ottoman all the time. Ottoman clothing is my main fixation for the "real"research. Perhaps it's time I opened books of a different nature, eh?

Thanks for the compliment on my hair hat. Although it's not the fanciest, I am very proud of the fact that it doesn't need a single bobby pin to stay on. I put a few in just in case, but I've worn it for hours before with zero pins and it didn't budge!!

[stitchjock]

You did indeed look good and right. I've never gotten on the Italian Dressing bandwagon, but not because I don't love it. Every once in awhile I think I need to put some together for myself, and someday I'll just do it. In my copious spare time. Which we all have.

[stitchjock]

True dat!