1940s Wedding Veils
Veils have traditionally been worn by women on their wedding day. Some women have worn a veil for fashion purposes and prefer a more traditional style. 1940s wedding veils were small in keeping with a simpler economic era and were almost purely ornamental, attached to a bride's hat or hair with a comb. 1940s veils were available in a variety of styles and shapes. Does this Spark an idea?
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Birdcage Veils
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Birdcage veils were short French, Russian or English netted veils that cover only faces or eyes. The size of the squares in the netting differentiated the three types: French veils had the tightest weave, while English veils had the largest. The birdcage veil could be attached to a small hat or a large hair ornament. Birdcage veils could also be adorned with a large pin or a flower.
Headpieces
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Headpieces were worn on top of the head or toward the back of the head, had the veil attached at the back, and were often half-crown shaped. There were a number of 1940s style headpieces. Satin headpieces with flowers were braided wreaths of satin joined at the back with a cluster of wax blossoms. There were also floral headpieces and pearl headpieces, with delicate pearls on a bendable wire frame. Wax flower headpieces were made with rhinestones, wax flowers and a veil of tulle. The 1940s also offered women the beaded headpiece, made with intricate beadwork, designed like a stand-up headband, a couple of inches in height.
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Hats
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Hats were also a common wedding accessory, one that made a comeback during the 1940s. Hats were often worn with a short tulle veil. Fancy feather hats were adorned with feathers, flowers and rhinestones. Lace hats were a flatter style that extended a few inches outward, around the entire head. Headband wedding hats were also popular. Some offered velvet flowers covering the headband, with a velvet flower on the side and a veil attached at the back. Another style of headband hat was the snood headband hat -- a velvet headband attached to netting that covered the crown of the head, with a small bunch of flowers attached to the back.
Considerations
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The wedding veil has always been a striking part of any wedding outfit. Traditionally, the veil became a symbol of assuring the husband and his family of the bride's virtue. During the wedding ceremony, the groom "took possession" of the bride when he lifted the veil and saw her face. There were various factors 1940s brides had to consider before purchasing or making a veil. Aside from economic considerations, the style of veil could have depended on the style of the wedding dress. Women did not want to overshadow their dresses with a glamorous veil, so if the dress was simple, oftentimes the veil was kept simple. Personal considerations may have included face shape, hairstyle and body shape.
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References
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