Frizzing and Curling -

Plaits and Ribbon

With this assignment we were instructed to experiment with ribbons, plaits and even twists! After all, hairstyles in the Elizabethan era were always decorative so with these images above I tried to maintain that. I started by separating the front and back halves of the head on my model, then backcombed the back section to add some mega volume, but to also add texture to my models straight hair. Texture (to me) is very important for recreating an Elizabethan look because the hair seen in paintings and research, always has a wispy/crimped type texture and appearance. Once the hair was backcombed, I then gathered all the back section to create a basic plait entwined with light blue satin ribbon. I think this worked well because the backcombing helped to structure the direction of the plait; it made the plait look natural and effortless but still elegant because of the ribbon. I think this would have worked even better if I had tried different techniques when putting the ribbon into my plait and maybe it would have looked even more professional if I had added some stud earrings into the folds of the plait so it looked like jewels. I also experimented a bit with adding some roses in the parting between the front and back sections of the hair; I really liked this spare of the moment idea because it not only decorative but also frames the head and shape of my model. I also parted the front section of the hair through the middle, and plaited each side into a bun-like shape; I think this would be an interesting idea for my final image if I added something inside (as strange as that sounds). This style to me added a very effortless Elizabethan aspect to the hair!

-XO

Elizabethan Hair Quote -

  

So, as a small class assignment, we were told to find a quote based on the content of Elizabethan Hair and depict what the key words of the quote was. The typical quote that I’m assuming everyone used is the Philip Stubbes quote that approaches Elizabethan Hairstyles with Elizabethan language. I however,  used a quote that I found on Google Search engine that has no fame to it, but does in fact speak sense of Elizabethan hair. The words that stuck out most when reading over this quote were definitely, “Elegantly Up-Kept, Bold and Decorative”. Once I started to research Elizabethan hair, I quickly realised that this quote was perfect for this assignment because it is an exact depiction of the hairstyles in which men and women of the era wore.

If you refer back to my previous post on Elizabethan Hair Experimentation; you will see the awful but reflective sketch I created to sum up the keywords in this Quote in my own way :

http://hairbynini.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/elizabethan-hair-experimentation.html

So,  because I spoke about the details of my sketch in my other post, here I’m just going to look over some modern interpretations of these keywords that could be used to create a modern Elizabethan Hairstyle.

• I chose this image for the “Elegantly Up-Kept” aspect of my quote because I really love the shape and textures created in the up-do; especially the front of the hair where it looks like an effortless crimped hairstyle but was probably curled. To me the texture created through the curls almost imitates the hairstyles and textures used in Elizabethan times, but more specifically the paintings that I have researched of Queen Elizabeth I. I think it looks more modern (to me) because it has that beach-salt type tousle to it and although it is elegant, it definitely is messy and effortless at the same time. This picture is also a very good example of how something has been made elegant; because the hair is slightly messy looking the overall look has been completed with a sapphire stone pair of earrings and a necklace. This shows that accessories and props have a major impact on an overall image.

•  With this modern photograph I thought it represented the “bold” aspect of the quote really well because the top spiral of hair is very bold in contrast to the shorter shaved sides of the models head. Also; again with textures I really like the fluffy but wisped texture in the hair style because of the textures seen in Elizabethan hair. I think that this image also appears abstract because of the weight of the hair at the front of the models head.

• For the “Decorative” aspect of the quote I found this elegant yet sophisticated hairstyle that almost seems bridal, but in an Elizabethan interpretation; could be seen as royal. What I really enjoyed about this image was the french plait embedded with what seems to be strings of small pearls i think that plaits in general are a very safe yet historic way to add a certain je ne sais que to any Medieval/Elizabethan hair-do. I feel like the decor added and used in a hairstyle should be very reflective of the overall styling on a model; accessories and hair decor can tell a story of a character; as can a prop in a photograph e.g. Queen Elizabeth I with her pet rat.

What do you think about this quote? What sort of modern styles would you attach to these keywords? – XO

Elizabethan Hair Experimentation -

 

Towards my journey of Elizabethan Hair and Beauty research; We were tested on how well we could follow instructions based on someone’s interpretation of modern Elizabethan Hair. During this class we were supplied with materials from auburn crepe hair, to gold embellishments and ribbon. With these materials and mediums of our own we were to create the Elizabethan design on something as simple as… A3 paper. The image above is a small sketch that does not do my two year a-level qualification any justice but does show some factors that whilst researching Elizabethan hair, I personally found of much significance to what I plan to interpret myself. Understanding Style, Colour, Textures and position are key to perfecting the style in which many Elizabethan women once wore themselves, done with nothing but the simpleness of that era.

I chose the following features in this hairstyle to reflect Elizabethan style;

• Gold/Brightly Coloured Ribbon Material -

Colour itself has great importance in our 21st Century lives; Red can reflect love and romance, whilst green can represent either jealously or the doings of evil, but in the Elizabethan era it not only conveyed an emotion but also the well being, class and wealth of an individual; and with this small sketch I thought it was really important for me to reflect some colour for example gold and bright colours. These bright colours were only wore by those of importance and essentially only those who could afford the luxury of satin and velvet. Colours that we would associate with an Elizabethan peasant (however cruel that word is) would usually be more earthy tones of brown and khaki accompanied with a coarse material to reflect ones position in society.

• Coloured Lace (matching hair colour) -

This idea I had because of a quote I read about Elizabethan Hair, in which it stated that Women’s hair was always elegant; and because I did initially design an afro-type crimped hairstyle, I wanted to just add some grace and elegance to not only make it modern but to also reflect different textures. I also felt that if I could find a lace material that is the same colour as the models hair, it would look like the lace was part of the hair and they would blend into one another. I feel like it is important to add accessories and think outside of the box with our interpretation of the Elizabethan hair because in all the pictures I have flicked through, there is always some decorative aspect to the hair and outfit which at the time could only suggest importance; so this is why I chose to add Gold Ribbon and Lace to my design.

• French Braid -

I designed this sketch with a braid in mind. I knew that I wanted a braid somewhere in the design because to me its the closest structure to a crimp but also is a very good representative of the Medieval/Elizabethan era. I thought that having a plait going across the whole top half of the head would not only add a feminine touch to the up-do, but would also contrast in structure with the big afro-like crimped hair at the back, and a clean cut french plait framing the face at the front.
However, when being partnered up in class we chose to design something a lot different from my own design:

As you can see from the collage above, the two hair designed on A3 paper did come to life and here were the keywords:

• Crisped
• Rings
• Frizzed
• Bugles
• Veil
• Curled

-XO

The Fundamentals of Makeup and Hair Design; Elizabethan Introduction

Through the duration of studying The Fundamentals of Makeup and Hair Design; our first brief and project uncovers the beauty and history in makeup and hair from 1558-1603, under the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Our understanding of the Elizabethan era most defiantly is required to show in our final project work. The twist with this project however is the fact that we must take every aspect of Elizabethan culture; like for instance the makeup that was used, materials and colours that determined class and wealth, hair and makeup techniques as well as what significance a pale face and brightly coloured gown had. With these in mind, we must then create a final image of hair and makeup that not only is a modern version of an Elizabethan look, but also gain great understanding of each possible garment, makeup and hair style from this era. With this project brief in mind, I shall document my research and findings of not Queen Elizabeth I during the ‘Golden Age’ but also of what history tells us about makeup, hair and styling of this infamous era.

-XO

Nothing beats a smart up-do

The second part of my hair research leads to this; a classic, SMART and elegant up-do as shown on the fabulous Tyra Banks. I chose this particular up-do because it has a very distinct but modern vintage style to it. It’s certainly different to any old up-do, due to the spiral entwined bun on the side of the head which in this instance, works extremely well with the shape of ANTM’s judge, Tyra.

-XO

Wild Thang...

David LaChapelle has to be one of my all time favourite Photographers! He work is most definitely abstract, and the styling that goes in his images are just as extravagant. I think that people who love fashion will appreciate this modern take on an Antoinette based theme and even more so, I hope my Uni class will appreciate how WILD the hair is in this photo. To me this hair is Afro-tastic and wild, it holds a lot of volume but then again is not perfectly styled for the picture; this being said, the crimped like hair stands at three different directions and to be quite frank, is all over the place! Somehow though, the bizarre hair works perfectly with the bizarre content of using breast milk to top up a bowl of cereal… desperate times call for desperate measures. Anyways, this to me is a great example of WILD HAIR, also notice that some parts of the wig imitate the lace on the models clothing. – XO