Comments | labricoleuse: Project: Historical wig silhouettes from nontraditional materials

labricoleuse

Project: Historical wig silhouettes from nontraditional materials

Feb 04, 2007 17:28

There are so many periods in history where hair and wigs are absolutely essential to the general silhouette of the human figure. What're Restoration-era men to do without perukes? How do you have Chancery barristers without barrister wigs? Can you hope to present pre-Revolutionary French royalty without giant white ringlety pompadours full of ( Read more... )

wigs, wigmaking, projects

Comments 5

wendyhouse February 4 2007, 23:06:53 UTC

it's so true.

My dad passed down to me a wonderful wig pattern, that makes fantastic geisha and samurai wigs when done in black crepe paper.

It also works well in fake fur, and takes just a tiny bit. My server's down right now so I can't link a picture, but as soon as it's back I will.

I like the horsehair braid - does it work well for stage, or does the translucency soften the shape when viewed from a distance?

labricoleuse February 5 2007, 14:34:23 UTC

Please do post the photo(s) of the fur and crepe paper wigs. I've seen geisha wigs done up really lovely using paper twist, cornhusks, and ethafoam backer rod before (not all on the same wig, separate ones of each material); i always love seeing familiar materials used in new ways.

Is the pattern something you'd be willing to share with myself and my students? I'm giving them patterns/instructions for wigs made from the backer rod and from narrow ribbon which i'd gladly "trade" you, if either peaks your interest! (I won't be posting these patterns on the blog because i don't have permission from their creators to do so, though i can use them for educational purposes.)

I like the horsehair braid - does it work well for stage, or does the translucency soften the shape when viewed from a distance?Its effectiveness is contingent upon a number of factors--size of the house/proximity of the audience, nature and color of the set/backdrop, usage and direction of lighting. It'd be fine in our mainstage house (thrust stage, just over 500 ( ... )

wendyhouse February 5 2007, 15:20:01 UTC

of course!
I will post pics of the fur wigs as soon as my server is back up (dumb motherboard died, apparently). (Actually, there's one here, for the Wolf in Into The Woods - his breeches and wig are of the same fur.)
I will dig through and try and find pics of the crepe paper ones. If I can't find one, maybe I will make a new one :)

And of course, I'd be happy to pass on the wig pattern. Let me dig it out and get a scale copy made. Might take me a bit -- we moved into a new house and I have a dedicated craft room (yay!), but I had hardwood floors put in to replace the carpet and so it's not all unpacked yet.

girfan February 4 2007, 23:14:35 UTC

That first photo looks like it could be a NYC club kid creation!

Pompadour plastic bag wigs anonymous June 22 2010, 01:55:54 UTC

Hi Rachel,

fortuitously I am finding myself on your blog, as I am looking for that exact pic of Daisy Fellowes (by Horst, hair by Antoine)... and to answer your question mark about the big Pompadour/plastic bag headdress, I think it is made by my friend Kate Cusack, who also assisted me on a few shows... and who is quite excellent. What a very small world!
Camille Assaf