Updo with a Gold Feather
The foundation of this 1910s hairstyle is a mass of tight, perfectly formed ringlets that have been arranged and stacked into a full, rounded shape at the back and sides of the head. Ringlets - long, spring-like curls that wrap around themselves in a spiral - were a classic element of Victorian hairdressing that continued to influence styles well into the Edwardian and early twentieth-century period.
Feathers in hair had a long history in fashion, going back centuries, but by the 1910s they had taken on a new, more decorative form. Rather than actual bird feathers, jeweled and metalwork feathers were becoming popular as permanent hair ornaments that could be worn again and again.
The red color of the hair is a perfect complement to the gold of the ornament. The warmth of the red tones and the gleam of the gold work together to create an impression of richness and vitality. The teal blue dress with its high lace collar adds a further note of formality and refinement.
Looking at this hairstyle from the side, you can see the true skill that has gone into its construction. The ringlets are not simply piled up randomly: they have been arranged in rows, each one fitting neatly against the next, creating a wall of curls that is both dense and graceful. The overall silhouette is rounded and full, a shape that was very much in keeping with the Edwardian ideal of feminine beauty that was influencing fashion in the 1910s.
This is a style that would have been worn to a very formal occasion: a dinner party or the opera. It is a style that says: I understand beauty, I have the means to pursue it, and I am not afraid to be seen. For anyone who loves the romance and drama of the early twentieth century, this hairstyle is one of the most inspiring examples of what was possible.
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See also: Vintage Hair