On my recent trip to the Victoria & Albert Museum's Textiles and Fashion Department, this turban, and the various accessories* showcased with it, caught my eye. Judging by fashion prints, turbans and toques seem to have remained popular for decades. By the 1830s, they expanded, to match the extravagantly gi-normous hats and bonnets and sleeves of the era.
This one is not so extreme. Dated 1818-1823, it also offers a good example of the difference between a fashion print and the real thing.
As the information page at the V&A explains, British milliners did not know exactly how a turban was constructed. It’s possible that the real thing wouldn’t have been quite such a hit with the ladies, except, perhaps as fancy dress, as in this example.
But milliners did lovely things with the turban concept, adding feathers, jewels, lace, and the sort of floral decoration you can see on the V&A information page. I do suggest you enlarge the images at the site, which include a top-down view showing the level of artistry and craftsmanship involved.
Here’s an earlier Regency era turban, which is a bit more like a beret.
One thing that struck me about the turban on display: It seemed as though it would go well with 1930s style clothing, and probably several other fashion eras. Can we call it timeless?
*You can find out more about the fan here on its V&A page.
Please click on images to enlarge.
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3 comments:
Exquisite Georgian turban!
Soft, silk turbans are still as beautiful today as they ever were, and probably the easiest to wear of all out modern head coverings. But perhaps the word "turban" seems too male-oriented and too exotic for lots of fashionable women.
Gorgeous! I'm dying to go to the V&A Museum. Every time we go to London there seems to be some reason we can't make it there, but next trip, it is a must. Thanks for posting this!
I can't imagine why someone would wear those. Like fascinators, they just boggle my mind.
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