Shapes and Structures

Elizabethan hair is very much about the high, padded structures and shapes. There are a couple of different shapes that are seen in hair from this period such as. Elizabethans would of used 'Rats' as padding to create these styles. These hair styles were associated with upper class women or royalty as women who had to work would not be able to afford or maintain such styles. 



HEART SHAPE:
This shape is shown frequently, and features two sets of padding, creating a 'heart' shape on top of the head. I think this is a style heavily associated with the queen as she is wearing it in a lot of her portraits. 






Adaptations of this shape are still seen in fashion today, for example on the Alexander Mcqueen Runway. 













CENTRAL PADDING:
This is also a very common Elizabethan style, padding would be placed in the centre of the head to create this tall, rounded structure. 

This is the method we were shown in class of how to create padded styles:

NEEDED:

Padding (Tights stuffed with tissue or bundles of felt hair) 

Sectioning comb

Bobby Pins

Geisha Pins

Paddle Brush

METHOD:

1. Section the hair so that all of the hair you want to cover the padding is in front.
2. Start a french plait from one side of the head to another. (See Plaits section)
3. Pin plait in place.
4. Choose your padding and check the size against the head. 
5. Begin to pin your padding with Geisha Pins, I do this by hooking them up through the padding and then pulling them down, hooking them into the plait to secure the padding.
6. Continue until the padding is fully secure.
7. Bring the hair you need to cover you padding back. Backcomb the hair at the root using your Sectioning comb, repeatedly bring the comb down to backcomb the hair creating lift at the root.
8. Pin the hair back over the padding, tucking it in as you go if necessary. 

And some pictures of some looks I created...

hji. (2012). 2012 rounded hairstyle. Available: http://www.hji.co.uk/hairstyle-gallery/2012-rounded-beehive-hair-hairstyle/. Last accessed 3rd December 2014.

goldderby.com. (2014). Oscars: Most successful film . Available: http://www.goldderby.com/photos/250/3310/shekhar-kapur's-'elizabeth'-films~-2-wins-9-nominations.html. Last accessed 3rd december 2014.

handbag.com. (2007). Spring Summer 07 hair trends. Available: http://www.handbag.com/beauty-bag/i448786/springsummer-07-hair-trends-step-back-in-time-alexander-mcqueen.html. Last accessed 3rd December 2014.