Antique Boudoir Caps

[Antares]

I've been going through some of the patterns at the Antique Pattern Library (http://www.antiquepatternlibrary.org/) and found some amusing, yet lovely, patterns that I thought would be perfect for a few of my friends. These girls love antique/vintage clothing, all things fashion, frilly and lacy, things, etc. etc. (I'm the one who dresses for comfort and don't care a thing about style).

So I decided to make them some boudoir caps. I mean, what woman DOESN'T need a boudoir cap, right?

[justplaincharlotte]

Antares,

Your caps are beautiful as are your friends!

Your post sent me out in search of what a boudoir cap was designed for. For those who are as insatiably curious as I am there's an interesting bit of history behind them here: http://vintagefashionguild.org/linge...e/boudoir-cap/

Like you, I'm the one who's all about comfort, and you can add ease of care to that mix. But anything girlie typically made out of silk intrigues me to no end.

Go figure... from the blue jeans girl who loves doilies.

[insanenewknitter]

ooh la la! Beautiful...ness!

[Antares]

Your post sent me out in search of what a boudoir cap was designed for. For those who are as insatiably curious as I am there's an interesting bit of history behind them here: http://vintagefashionguild.org/linge...e/boudoir-cap/

Thanks for the link, Charlotte. From what I've read, boudoir caps were also worn to bed--to keep women's hairdos from being messed up.

I also saw patterns for "hair receivers," decorated containers in which women collected hair from their brushes and . . . . then what they did with that hair, I don't know! Not sure I WANT to know.

Interesting that the article you linked to says that after women cut their hair short, boudoir caps weren't needed--interesting because almost all the models wearing boudoir caps in the antique pattern books had short hair. So obviously short hair didn't stop women from wearing these "night caps."

Verrrrry interesting!

[salmonmac]

So lovely. All your diving into vintage patterns was well worth it. You found some gems.

[GrumpyGramma]

Antares, those are just darling! I wonder if middle school girls are into such things, my GD is the only one I can think who might want one. I bet they'd sell like hotcakes at a ren fair.

Charlotte, I checked your link, thanks for posting it.

In recent years, their descendant is the functional curler cap, worn to hide hair curlers.

I'm trying to figure out what hair curlers are, they sound like an instument of torture to me!

GG who figures if it ain't comfortable...fergit it!

[Antares]

GG: It seems like these hats could be worn . . . . ahem . . . . outside the bedroom. My two friends (who as I mentioned, are much more into fashion than I am) were talking about wearing them out and about.

You might show your GD the picture of my friends and ask if she'd like a hat like that.

[Becky Morgan]

I also saw patterns for "hair receivers," decorated containers in which women collected hair from their brushes and . . . . then what they did with that hair, I don't know! Not sure I WANT to know.

Next search for "hair jewelry". There's some amazing stuff. Also, when most women wore their hair long and piled up, they saved combings and rolled them to make "rats", then pulled their (still attached) hair up over them to make the hairdo look fuller. Sort of like hair extensions, but guaranteed to match.

[ArtLady1981]

They are divine! Great gifts! Nice work, too!