Fantasy Wardrobe: Popular Headresses (Women) Part 2
Fashion for ladies have changed throughout the centuries, no garment more so than the headdresses they wear. Statement headdresses can be an interesting component to add to your worldbuilding. The use of different styles give each culture a defined feel and could act as a symbol of all kinds of lands in your WIP.
Tichel/Mitpachat
This consists of a headscarf wound about a woman's head, in varying knots ranging from simple to complicated. The two most popular ties are the sinar and the full cover.
Hijab
This is probably the most comfortable of all the headdresses on these lists. It consists of a headscarf covering the hair and neck but leaving the face clear.
Coif
This is a simple linen slip that covers the hair. Noblewomen often wore these beneath headdress while common women wore these just over their hair without any adornments.
Niqab
This headdress covers all of a woman’s face leaving a slot for the eyes. It is quite a substantial garment, usually cut to cover the chest and the midback of the wearer. It can be confused with the burqa with is basically a niqab just that it covers the whole body as well.
Fengguan/ phoenix crown
This is a traditional Chinese headdress worn by noblewomen throughout Tang Dynasty to Ming and Qing Dynasty. Noblewomen were entitled to wear different ornaments in their fengguans based upon their rank.
Mantilla
These are one tradition I wish we could bring back. The mantilla is veil or a shawl made of intricate that is draped over the head and shoulders and sewn to the peineta, a sort of comb to add height.
Gele/Duku/Dhuku/Tukwi/Head-tie
Another very comfortable headdress. It involves a cloth wrap bound about the head popular in Western Africa. They can be as elaborate as you like or more simple.
Isicholo/Inhloko
This is the traditional headdress for a married Zulu woman. It was brought into notoriety in recent times because of Black Panther's sensational costuming team.
Stephane
This headdress was popular among Greek and Hellenistic royal women and noble Roman women. It consists of an arc of metal sitting atop the head in a crescent shape. It would be worn on styled hair and sometimes draped with a veil.
Laurel Wreath
The laurel wreath is the look. Julius Caesar rocked it over his baldness (my poor vain war criminal). Royal Roman and Greek women often wore gilded laurel wreathes for status reasons. It is still a bitchin look.
Would also like to add the russian classic, the kokoshnik. She comes in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials. The kokoshnik was an important part of the russian imperial court dress toward the end of the Romanov dynasty (see below).
Also, the french hood! Made famous by everyone’s favorite femme fatal, Anne Boleyn. It looks similar to the kokoshnik but generally covers more hair and features a solid veil behind.
