How to Make a Victorian Feather Hairpiece
Victorian style still finds its way into modern fashion. The melding of Victorian and contemporary fashions with a "do-it-yourself" look is often referred to as "Steampunk." According to an April 2010 article in Utah's "In This Week," Steampunk culture is a combination of "antique gadgets," science, technology and even time travel. Think of films like "The City of Lost Children" and "Wild, Wild West." When it comes to fashion, Victorian-inspired styles are being seen on the runway from designers like John Galliano and Jean-Paul Gaultier. Join the Steampunk fashion explosion by creating your own Victorian feather hairpiece. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Thin headband
- Marker
- Hot glue gun and glue
- Feathers
- Ribbon or lace
- Jewelry chains
- Wire cutters
- Victorian-inspired medallion or brooch
Instructions
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Put the headband on. Ideally, the headband should be plain and fabric. Make a dot on one side of the headband about 3 inches from the top of your ear. Remove the headband.
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Use any type of feathers for your Victorian hairpiece. Glue the quill end of the feathers to the dot so that the feathery ends are pointing up. Depending on your preference, feathers can be colorful or plain, large or small. Use fuzzy or standard feathers or use both. If desired, flatten the feathers by gluing the feathery parts along the top of the headband.
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Glue silk ribbon or lace to the headband. Glue the ends of strips of ribbon or lace to the mark, over or right below the feather quills. Make the strips very long or short depending on your preference.
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Attach costume jewelry chains to the headband. Adhere plain jewelry chains (without clasps) in the same manner as the ribbon or lace from the mark below the feather quills. Cut the chains to the desired length with wire cutters. Plain jewelry chains are found in most craft stores in the jewelry-making section.
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Glue a Victorian-inspired brooch over the quills and ribbons. Attach a Victorian-inspired medallion or brooch on the mark with hot glue, hiding the feather quills and ribbon ends. Find medallions or brooches in craft, jewelry or antique stores.
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Tips & Warnings
Make Victorian-inspired feather hairpieces out of snap barrettes, hair combs or any other type of plain hair clip. Simply glue the feathers, ribbon or lace and a brooch (if desired) onto the hairpiece and position it at the side of your head, about 3 inches from the top of the ear.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Woman in Victorian dress image by Steve Thompson from Fotolia.com feathers image by mashe from Fotolia.com Lace in Box image by Yana from Fotolia.com gold chain image by enens from Fotolia.com ethnic brooch image by Alison Bowden from Fotolia.com
