Girls n headresses

[Annis]

In the medieval period, would unmarried women have worn headresses?

Annis x

[craig1459]

Hi Annis
This is probably more apt to the costumes section. I've bounced an old thread on the subject of C15 head-dresses there so you can see if it's useful

[Tuppence]

True more apt to costume, but to give a brief answer here, it depends!!

Firstly it depends on which bit of medieval you're talking about - social attiudes did change through the thousand or so years that can be called medieval (obviously).

But it also depends on where you were (although that's hard to pin down unless you have a text or pictures directly relating to a given area.

And finally it would depend on the age of the woman. Young women, no - not until they *were* married. Older women who weren't married (and hadn't turned to the church), may have covered their heads just to protect themselves from attacks brought on by local moral outrage.

Debs

[Annis]

For the years 1347-1350 and yes, she is young.

[Gail Horn]

Just from a parental point of view, in these hot summers we occasionally get, it's a very good idea to keep kids' heads and necks covered anyway, as they can end up with major heat stroke and sunburn! If they refuse, don't forget the sunblock on the ears!

[Tuppence]

v.v. good point about keeping kids heads covered

but from an authenti point of view, no she'd be allowed to have her head uncovered and her hair flying free.

[Annis]

By the way, it's for a story and not a reenactment.
But thanks anyway, if she were wed/betrothed would she have to have had a headdress?

Annis x