Updo with Uniform Waves
Stepping into 1915, we begin to notice a subtle but significant shift in the way women were wearing their hair. The high constructions of earlier years were giving way to something lower, closer to the head. This hairstyle is a perfect example of that transition: still formal, but with a softer appeal.
The waves are consistent, each one following the same gentle curve as the one before it. This kind of evenness was the hallmark of a skilled hand. Whether the waves were set with a heated iron, with curl papers, or with some other technique, they have been arranged into a shape that looks almost effortless. The red-brown of the hair gives the whole look a vitality that dark or light hair might not have.
At the back, the hair has been pinned up in a way that creates a smooth, rounded shape. There are no loose ends, no escaping curls, and everything is neat. The side profile is clean and elegant, with the line of the neck visible below the upswept hair. This was an important silhouette for the period, as fashion in 1915 was beginning to take a more streamlined approach to the female form.
The finishing touches here are simple and well-chosen: a pair of pearl drop earrings, adding movement. Pearls were the jewel of the moment in 1915, considered the most feminine and appropriate gem for daytime and evening wear alike. The white lace collar of the cream-colored dress echoes the pearl earrings, creating a sense of harmony between the hair, the face, and the clothing.
What is perhaps most striking about this look is the expression of the woman. Looking directly at the viewer with calm, clear eyes, there is an assurance here that feels very much of its time. Women in 1915 were beginning to move through the world in new ways: more independently, more purposefully. The hairstyle reflects this: it is practical enough to wear all day, beautiful enough for any occasion, and requires no constant adjustment.
©Hairfinder.com
See also: Vintage Hair