Fashion History Of The Turban

By Cathy Mercer


For many centuries, various cultures and religious groups have use the turban as the primary headdress of their accepted type of dress. Some societies even use the various wrapping techniques and colors to signify an individual's placement among their peers, or their job. In some Western countries, this covering has become a growing fashion trend.

Traditionally speaking, the headdress is formed by wrapping a long scarf made of cotton, linen or silk around the head multiple times in a particular fashion to form a specific design. In modern times the name has come to mean a wide range of close fitting brimless caps worn by both male and females. Many are actually wound and sewn in position prior to being sold.

It was the later part of the 17th century when this type of fashion was first debuted in the Western world, though at that time it was it was still worn mainly only by those who belonged to specific cultures or faiths. In the early years of the 20th century, the beautiful female stars of the silent movies began to sport these exotic head pieces. As the 1930's rolled in, every socialite wore them as a symbol of her prime breeding, exclusive education and worldly experience.

Turbans became one of the leading symbols of high glamor and began to take on a more embellished look with the addition of precious stones or being made from more elaborate fabrics. It added an air of mystery and an exotic beauty. Movie stars were wearing them to premiers with so much adornment that they often resembled the elaborate crowns of royalty.

This stylish head gear was not exclusively for the rich and famous. The housewives and working class ladies of the 50's and 60's started wearing plainer versions in cotton or linen as a way to be fashionable and keep their hair controlled all while carrying on with their daily duties. Terry cloth versions soon replaced the towel as a more attractive and acceptable way to dry one's hair after swimming or showering.

The style gurus in the 70's transformed the wrap into a new type of hat. They were manufactured as ready made pieces that could simply be slipped on and hair was allowed to flow loosely out from beneath the covering. The adornments became larger, though a little less lavish, as was the trend of the era.

Over the next couple of decades the style began to lose its appeal and its popularity faded. Recent years have seen this trend burst back on the scene but with a modern twist. Today, women are wearing hundreds of variations on the traditional styles and adding new twists that make them fashionable enough for daily use and perfect for individuals who are suffering hair loss or undergoing chemotherapy treatment.

Although for centuries the turban has been used to symbolize a person's culture or religion, it has also become a fashion statement in many Western societies. With hundreds of variations on stylish ways to wrap a scarf, more and more women have begun to realize that the trend is not only beautiful but practical. The fact that they are also being produced as ready made caps has made them accessible choices for even more individuals.




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