To cover the frame, it helps to have something vaguely solid inside to attach the covering to. I’m going to make a base out of craft foam, then use the covering fabric to attach the foam to the headdress. (I know this sounds bass-ackwards. Watch….)
Mark out the length of the foam base, using measurements taken off the jig used to shape the wires for the frame.The frame is basically banana-shaped. I've marked out an idealized version of the shape, based on the length of the frame and the width of the feather cage.Cut a piece of fabric to cover the foam and frame. It should be roughly 2" larger than the foam on all sides. I'm using silver lycra, to make my life easier.
You might be wondering how silver lycra is ever the option that makes life easier. In this case, since I’ll be stretching it over a rather lumpy (blame the pipe cleaners) frame, the stretch of the lycra will actually make a multitude of sins into something that looks vaguely intentional. Also, since this fabric doesn’t fray at all, I don’t have to find a way to seal all the cut edges I’m about to make. That’s going to help a lot, especially when it comes to limiting the amount of ugly that occurs around the front and back braces.
Artfully glop hot glue onto one side of the foam, and affix it to the center of the WRONG SIDE of the lycra.Center the foam/fabric construction against the frame.Carefully place both foam/fabric and frame back onto the styrofoam head. The frame will hold the foam/fabric piece in place while you work.Working in 2" strips, carefully wrap the lycra around the frame and hot glue it to the pipe cleaners and the foam. Try to be as neat as possible when going around the corners and the braces...Continue all around, then trim back the lycra.The lumpy of the pipe cleaners under the lycra looks a bit like some sort of embossed silver...Now that we have something solid in the middle, we can glue down the feather cage. Use a lot of glue - you don't want this to wiggle at all.The basic construction is done.... Now we just need to make it pretty.
Wow. You really CAN make anything, literally ANYTHING!!!! As usual, you are my costuming hero. And congrats on how fabulous Chicago looked – excellent work!
[…] How to Make a Show Girl Headdress | Sempstress […]
LuLuNovember 7, 2010
I recently bought a showgirl headdress for a dance recital. It is quite large and will not stay in place. It often slides backwards. Any tips on how to make it stay in place?
Thanks
-Lu
Hi, Lulu,
I’m sorry, but since I don’t know how it’s made and what sort of structure it’s built on, I can’t even guess. You should contact the maker and find out what suggestions they have.
Sorry I can’t be more helpful!
Thanks for sharing this information. I’m learning more about hat designing from from friend Josie Silva at http://learnhowtomakehats.com. She also wears big Show Girl Hats…I am going to pass this site on ton her!
Thanks again!
karen contiSeptember 14, 2014
thanks for your site. I have to make a Fastasy Fest (Key West) show girls’ headdress. My headdress is for a garden club’s exhibit made out of plant material!
missaSeptember 15, 2014
hi, Karen – That sounds like awesome fun! There’s more than enough room to embed a wet sponge or something in the middle of this design to keep more delicate flowers alive. I’d love to see pictures when you’re done!
Hi, I am new to this site and I am so impressed! I needed to purchase some white collar sailor hats recently for a show and they asked what I was using them for. In this case it was to make cloches for a 1920s show.( If you fold down the brims they make a great base to build your hats.) Anyway I asked why they wanted to know . They said that this is what the Mummers use in Philadelphia to mount all of they’re elaborate headdresses with the many feathers. I tried it and they do make a very sturdy base if you can use a helmut -looking headdress. I have cut out the ears at times and added wire where needed. I also found if I cut out at the back of the neck it fits better. Anyway , just wanted to share.
missaJuly 27, 2015
Hi, Rebecca – Thanks for the tip! That’s pretty fab. :) Glad you’ve enjoyed the site, and I hope to keep impressing you!
Hair and headpieces do not mix unless it’s a Carnival type event. For a showgirl in Vegas, the hair is never shown.
missaAugust 31, 2017
The director wanted period wigs and show girl headdresses. So, that’s what we did. (IIIRC, we put most of our wrestling for artistic control into not having to costume our male actors as literal giant babies in diapers and bonnets.)
[…] be heavy. You can only find so much light produce. I know how to build a stable, heavy hat if I can anchor around the skull. I know how to build one if I can permanently embed it in a hairdo. I can’t do either, […]
Pics of you dancing with the pipecleaners on your head, just to pre-test it?
*laugh* There’s an image – you’ve clearly never seen my try to dance. ;) How about pics of me chasing showgirls with a pliers?
Wow. You really CAN make anything, literally ANYTHING!!!! As usual, you are my costuming hero. And congrats on how fabulous Chicago looked – excellent work!
[…] How to Make a Show Girl Headdress | Sempstress […]
I recently bought a showgirl headdress for a dance recital. It is quite large and will not stay in place. It often slides backwards. Any tips on how to make it stay in place?
Thanks
-Lu
Hi, Lulu,
I’m sorry, but since I don’t know how it’s made and what sort of structure it’s built on, I can’t even guess. You should contact the maker and find out what suggestions they have.
Sorry I can’t be more helpful!
Thanks for sharing this information. I’m learning more about hat designing from from friend Josie Silva at http://learnhowtomakehats.com. She also wears big Show Girl Hats…I am going to pass this site on ton her!
Thanks again!
thanks for your site. I have to make a Fastasy Fest (Key West) show girls’ headdress. My headdress is for a garden club’s exhibit made out of plant material!
hi, Karen – That sounds like awesome fun! There’s more than enough room to embed a wet sponge or something in the middle of this design to keep more delicate flowers alive. I’d love to see pictures when you’re done!
[…] I decided to go with the two-hangers-and-some-craft-foam approach to millinery. […]
Hi, I am new to this site and I am so impressed! I needed to purchase some white collar sailor hats recently for a show and they asked what I was using them for. In this case it was to make cloches for a 1920s show.( If you fold down the brims they make a great base to build your hats.) Anyway I asked why they wanted to know . They said that this is what the Mummers use in Philadelphia to mount all of they’re elaborate headdresses with the many feathers. I tried it and they do make a very sturdy base if you can use a helmut -looking headdress. I have cut out the ears at times and added wire where needed. I also found if I cut out at the back of the neck it fits better. Anyway , just wanted to share.
Hi, Rebecca – Thanks for the tip! That’s pretty fab. :) Glad you’ve enjoyed the site, and I hope to keep impressing you!
[…] made the headdresses following this Sempstress tutorial. It worked out really well – some of the cast helped me make them assembly-line style. […]
its very nice!!!!!!11t hanks for sharing your wonderful ideas how to make show girl headdress…….its wasting my time..
Hair and headpieces do not mix unless it’s a Carnival type event. For a showgirl in Vegas, the hair is never shown.
The director wanted period wigs and show girl headdresses. So, that’s what we did. (IIIRC, we put most of our wrestling for artistic control into not having to costume our male actors as literal giant babies in diapers and bonnets.)
[…] be heavy. You can only find so much light produce. I know how to build a stable, heavy hat if I can anchor around the skull. I know how to build one if I can permanently embed it in a hairdo. I can’t do either, […]