Hairstyles and Headdresses of the Civil War Era contains illustrations originally published in issues of Godey's Lady's Book and Peterson's National Magazine from 1859-1864. Illustrations from my own collection were supplemented with those from the extensive collection of Patri and Barbara Pugliese. This volume is intended to assist ladies in more accurately reproducing the fashions of the period; the hairstyle is often the final part of the outfit to be considered but it is a part that greatly affects the success of a period persona.

"Headdresses for balls", says that impeachable authority the Moniteur, "are nearly always round, but much fuller behind and at the sides than in the front. They are generally a mixture of velvet, gold and silver ribbon, pearls, and even diamonds."

Godey's Lady's Book, August 1859           

The most recognizable features of hairstyles from this Era are the center part, with the hair pulled to the sides, and the absence of bangs. This period style is often difficult for modern ladies to adopt as it is so very different from their everyday look. The success of any re-enactor's outfit is greatly enhanced by the correct hairstyle or headdress. Many of us do not have the amount of hair needed to create some of the styles illustrated in this book, but with the careful placement of false hair, ribbons, flowers and lace, a stunning effect can be achieved that is practically indistinguishable from the original. There are many ingenious way to produce the illusion of long hair; one illustration (Godey's, September 1862) shows how a lady can ingeniously add a false hank of hair (called a front braid) to her own braid to make it thicker.

8 ½" by 11" high quality photocopy, with glue-in binding
59 pages
167 black and white illustrations
first published 1999
$8.00
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Last updated: 12 May 2006/csb