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.

In the later portion of the 17th century, Western society was first introduced to this covering by the ethnic groups that were moving into the country. The early years of the 20th century saw the rise of silent films in which many stars were sporting these exotic headdresses. Socialites in the 1930's made the turban their own status symbol of high breeding, expensive education and a knowledge of worldwide fashion.

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.

Throughout the next few decades, the popularity of this headdress lost its mass appeal and its popularity faded quite a bit. However, in recent years, there seems to have been a resurgence of this fashion choice. Women are wearing even more variations on the style than ever and they have become the covering of choice for many individuals who are undergoing chemotherapy or suffering from hair loss.

Still used as cultural and religious standards, the turban is also a major fashion statement of the Western world. People have come up with new and creative ways to wind a scarf that makes the covering not only beautiful, but practical as well. They have become the covering of choice for many, especially since they can be purchased in the no fuss, ready made hat format.




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