Mid 19th Century Headdress Base

A base for an evening headdress is easy to create at home.  The examples below are from the MET museum dating from the 1840s to the 1860s.  Start with some millinery wire and buckram.  Cut a teardrop shape from the buckram approximately 3" x 1 1/2".  Wire around the teardrops leaving a wire section to cross the top of the head.  Cover the frame with velvet to match your hair.  Velvet helps the headdress cling to the hair and keep from slipping off of the head. Velvet ribbon works well.  Fold the velvet in half over the tear drop.  Baste the velvet to the buckram.  Bind around each teardrop and across the top with coordinating velvet.  Trim the teardrop sections with ribbons or flowers to taste.  Hairpins at the top of each section will help attach the headdress to your properly styled hair.  For kits and premade headdress bases, click here.