Final Hair Design

My Final Design:

For my final design that I will use in my assessment,  I decided to take elements of my first design but adapt it in certain aspects. I took the first design and used the whole look as I found this look was my favourite, as it works really well with my hair type (curly) so I knew I could achieve large buns and include lots of texture. To make it a lot more interesting and contemporary I decided when doing the look to leave some hair down at the bottom and plait the hair into ten very tiny plaits. When having these tiny plaits I then would take four either side and curve them over attaching them into the buns. Then leaving two in the middle to take up the back of the head down the center parting clipping them into the sides of each bun. Overall the plaits in this look creates a caging effect which is what some Elizabethan styles had but also relates to my character as she was very secretive with her pregnancies, marriage and men so the caging can represent her caging herself in and her secretes.

Final Design Practice:

This was my partners first practice of my final design and as originally in my first design I was going to do the more simple version of it. I am more happy with this outcome as I believe it shows more skill and detail in the look and makes the overall design looks more appealing/interesting. When practicing we where unsure to how many plaits to put in as it was my first practice of this design but as explained in the plan I think its right to do ten as it creates four caging over the buns either side and two down the parting which makes it look neater and more symmetrical. In this practice I did not put any heat on my hair but to improve the design I am changing the texture to crimp the whole head as I think this will make the look much neater and give it a better texture. Lastly, I will curl some loose pieces of hair around the front of my face as to soften and frame the face.

Inspiration:

I was also inspired by these images that I found on pinterest . In these images it is a contemporary version of an Elizabethan costume and the headpiece inspired my new look. This look is showing a women caged in with elegant beading and I believe it represents she is trapped by her own wealth and can't really be herself. Therefore, by having this concept I adapted it to my own idea of caged in feelings and decided to used the plaits to represent another interpretation of being caged in. This also relates to the character I wanted to portray in my look as I chose Anne Vavasour  and I wanted my hair to highlight her other trapped personalities as she was seen as sweet in some sense to raising both illegitimate children but also sly/seductive as she tried to marry whilst still being married to another. Therefore I think this look portrays the character I want to get across really well. I also believe by creating this caging look with my own hair rather than costume pieces this further highlights that elements of herself trapping both these personalities. 

By Amelia Richmond-Knight 

Evaluation

Final Hair Evaluation

Overall, I am very pleased with my journey throughout this unit. I've learnt many new skills as I have never had any previous knowledge of how to perform any complex hairstyles before. I now feel very confident to experiment with new styles. My confidence has improved also by having to work with others in an aspect that is quite up close and personal and having to complete their designs to their desired image, as well as improving on other skills such as time management and having to work independently. I have enjoyed researching further into the Elizabethan era as it has always interested me but then having to apply it to a modern contemporary design made this more exciting for me as I am a very creative person and love to create any kind of art form. On the Other hand, to improve on my experiences I need to expand my ability of gaining information e.g. using the library more, referencing, watching videos etc and remembering to keep track of references.

 Regarding my final New Elizabethan Hair design, I am very pleased with my final design and outcome as I believe I applied all my learnt knowledge and skills from this project and created the best design that I could. I have combined the traditional Elizabethan look with contemporary to create an interpretation of this era. I know this project has given me the right start to further improve on these skills and eventually give me a wider range that I can later use in a work environment.    

Bibliography:

https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/408842472392644742/
https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/312789136589819134/
http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/elizabethan-ruffs.htm
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=rick+racking&biw=1920&bih=895&tbm=isch&source=lnms&sa=X&ved=0CIICEPwFKAFqFQoTCMn294iy0cgCFUW6FAodynYH4w#

Experimenting: Rick-Racking

Experimenting: Rick-Racking 

To start this look I started by parting the hair at the front of the head, with the size of the section to your choose (smaller is probably better) like shown in the top right hand picture. When having a square section of hair on the left and right side of the head, leaving the back of the hair separate and crimp these sections ready to create the heart shaped hair. You can then either use a prop to create the heart or use the backcombing technique. I decided to backcomb again, working by sections up the side of the head then I did both sides and rolled the hair over pinning it into place to create the heart shape. (shown in the top right hand picture). Now having the front shape I took the hair that I parted at the front from earlier. Then to start Rick-racking take a small section of hair and using a wide pin, hook it over the hair and then rapped the hair around the pin in a figure of eight shape. After that, pin the hair secure at the bottom of the hair and with straighteners press the rick-racking between them holding heat on for a couple of seconds (shown in the bottom right photo). Continue this around the front part off the head until finished.

When finished with that part of the look remove all pins from your Rick-racking technique and it should look like the left hand picture below. When having all your pieces ready pull each piece of hair one by one over the heart shaped hair and clip into place on the other side of the head. This look gives the heart shape hair a bit more texture and interest, as well as making the hair more of a period piece.

After completing the front part of this hair look I decided to part the hair down the middle and create a french braid. I then braided two french braids down the hair but instead of leaving it there I then took the end of the braid and rapped it around the other side of the head. I did the same with the other plait. This creates a milk maid braid and I believe this was more suited for the theme of look and really tied the whole design together. 

Contemporary and Elizabethan Examples:

These are examples of some contemporary and Elizabethan looks using the technique of rick-racking. The picture on the left is a contemporary version of this technique I really like this contemporary version as it still has elements of Elizabethan by having fiery red hair and the texture. On the other hand, to make this design contemporary it has a clean cut to the hair which really adds to the modern version of this look. The Elizabethan look to the right is an interpretation of what this technique would have been used in during this era. In comparison to the contemporary version this is very neat and regal which also shows off her forehead, as the hair line is a lot further back.

Reflection:

I found that when performing this look that with the heart shape hair with more practice it becomes easier to perform as making the right shape can be hard to get right. The Rick-racking technique I found was quite difficult at first but again when practicing it more and more it became a lot easier. I really enjoyed making this look as I feel as if I have improved in my technical hair skills and by achieving this look and I am improving more and more.  

By Amelia Richmond-Knight

Plaits

Fishtail, Three picese plait and French Braid

In this blog I am writing about some basic style that I was taught in my Hair lecture to start us off in the new project "New Elizabethan' which towards the end of the project we would have to create our own contemporary hair and make-up design. Therefore by being taught the some basic hair skills such as plaits this will help me develop my ideas for the final project as I could incorporate them into my final design. I found this practical session really useful as I had never done a french braid or a fishtail plait before as for my curly hair type I found it quite difficult to achieve.

FRENCH BRAID: 

I had never really attempted this kind of braid before and found that it was easier then I thought. Its starts off as a normal three braid plait but as you carry that plait on down the hair you  just pull in more hair from each side as you carry on. I gave this braid at least three of four attempts and this was my best but I believe its a hairstyle that can be hard to achieve at first but with more practice it could be achieved and incorporated into a 'New Elizabethan' look very well. 

FISH -TALE PLAIT:

For this braid again I had never done this look before but as I was given simple instruction I found that I could achieve this look far better than I first thought. Its starts with sectioning the hair into two sections instead of three and as you work down the hair just pulling small sections of hairs from one side to the other and just continuing that down. I found this look quite fiddly at the beginning a I had, had little practice on it but again with more practice it would become a lot easier. 

THREE PIECE PLAIT:

For this braid I had done this look many times before and I found it very easy as you only take three pieces of a section of hair and overlay them to create a three piece plait. However like both the other plaits, even though its simple it could be created or used in a later contemporary look that could looked very detailed. 

 

 

 

 REFLECTIVE:

Overall, I found this practical lesson very useful as mentioned before all these looks can later be interpreted into contemporary designs that can look very detailed and complete when prep and designing is put into it. As well I did find other plaits harder than others  e.g. french braid and fish tail plait but with more practice I think I could make this hairstyle look more structured and neat. 

By Amelia Richmond-knight

Head Dresses

Elizabethan Head Dresses

In this blog I will be writing about different head-dress and hair pieces that would have been worn by different classes of people during the rein of Queen Elizabeth 1st. I have written about five different head-wears that would have been worn, what they are made of and how the designs came about. By researching different head-dresses I can either get inspiration for my final hair design and decide whether I would want to incorporate any of these accessories into my look.  

Snood:

In this blog I am writing about different types of head dresses and hair pieces that were very popular during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1st. There were many popular head pieces such as the 'snood' (shown in the picture below). These items where mainly made by crocheting, which all varied as some were beaded, some tied off with string and others with elastic. Even though they were very popular during the Elizabethan era they did not originate there but in the Middle ages for a variety of cloth/netting that would cover the head. As well as serving a purpose of a decorative form they also served a practical purpose for women with long hair as it kept it in place when horse back riding. As well for the working class, as it would keep hair back whilst doing chores such as farming. 

   

French Hood:

The French Hood came originally from France and was very popular in the Elizabethan era, which has changed and adapted over time. The earliest version of the french hood was worn by 'Anne of Brittany' in the lat 15th century, it then became popular in England after 'Anne Boleyn' introduced it and continued to be worn by women until the end of the 16th century. The french hood is a stiff foundation wore far back on the head and the front of the hood was to curve around the forehead. As the hood was worn far back on the head it exposed a limited amount of hair at the front of the head and the back of the crown was raised into a horseshoe shaped curve over the back of head. It tended to be decorated with jewels and frills which showed expenses.

Chaplets:

Chaplets were garlands made of elements like flowers and leaves worn upon the head which symbolized a mark of honor or high esteem. They were most commonly worn by first time brides usually with their hand down and loose with orange blossoms and jewels in token of virginity. This is similar to the concept of Queen Elizabeth 1st wearing pearls on her outfits as in token to her virginity as pearl represent purity therefore meaning she is pure in everyday.

Coifs:

Coifs are caps made of white linen which could be worn by all classes under hoods or hats in the middle ages originally. In the 16th century it was one of the most common pieces of head-wear mainly worn by women but sometimes men. Its main purpose as it was a close fitting cap to kept warmth in, protect you from the elements and to keep hair out of ones face. They were mainly worn by lower class women to do chores as they were the most practical head-dress therefore I would not used this in my 'New Elizabethan' design as it was worn by the lower class and we are creating Elizabethan contemporary looks.

 Atifet:

The Atifet was a hat made for women and its overall design was based on the French Hood, it was not used in Elizabethan fashion until the late half of the 16th century as the French Hood had only just been introduced in the 1520's. The reason they are defined compared to the French Hood is because of there heart shape style instead of the even curve that the French hood has. As an added style sometimes lace or pearls were added to the 'Atifet' which was also worn by Queen Mary. 

 By Amelia Richmond-knight

My Final Hair Design:Outcome

My Final Hair Design: Outcome

In this blog I am writing about my hair design, final outcome. I believe that my partner really achieve my design very well as with the small changes and improvements I made to the look she has completed it to the standard I imagined. The look involved first straightening the hair and further on crimping the hair all over. Then to section the hair down in a clean middle parting to allow to put the hair into two pigtails. When having the two pigtail I then created the back comb buns which was shown in one of my previous blogs, after these buns where created with the leftover hair around the bottom of the neck it was used to make the detailing. Five plaits where created for the middle of the head, one running down the parting, a plait each that framed around each bun and another two that where running along side them (shown in picture three). Then by creating four plaits for each bun they were pined over into the buns to create a frame almost like a cage. Then finally to finish off the look my partner added three twist pearls in each bun for  detail.    

By Amelia Richmond-Knight

Accessories: Ruff

Making the Ruff

 My Character that I have created for my assessment is a very seductive and a lust wanting character, therefore I wanted to make my own costume piece to portray a small part of this which I could wear in my assessment photos. I wanted to create a ruff which was traditionally worn for this reason as: 'Ruffs, or ruffles, started as a high frilled collar. Fashion then dictated a more feminine and seductive image for women which was achieved by opening the ruffle in front to expose the neck and the top of the breasts'. This definition of reasons why ruffs where worn wear to attack men and used to seduce men which in fact relates perfectly to my character. It is also ironic as the ruff was originally worn by men but a smaller version. I have made mine with black fabric instead of white as white means purity and I wanted to create the opposite traits to this.

To start making the ruff I went out and brought five, one meters of black ribbon, black thread, a needle, Velcro, scissors, ruler and a pen. To start making the main ruff I took each meter of ribbon and measured 3.8 centimeters  along the top until the end. Then to begin sewing the black thread I pinched every other marked dot together and sewed the thread through and carried on this until the end of each ribbon. Then after this is done you should look like the far left picture below, when its like this sow the opposite folded ends together like we did with the first side. After this continue this same technique with the other four ribbons and you should have small ruff that look like the bottom picture below.
   

After completing all five small ruffs I then sowed all five off them together at the bottom and the top of each fold. When all the small ruffs are attached you should have a full sided ruff and then the final step is to measure out the Velcro. I took both parts of the Velcro and measured the right amount which I then sowed on too each ends of the ruff. This was the final step to making the final ruff and in the last picture below is the final outcome.  

By Amelia Richmond-Knight