Significance of hat feathers

[justsomeguytn]

I'm thinking about replacing the feather that came with my caviler hat with a natural feather of some type.  The one it has now is a very bright dyed blue.  Is there any significance to different types or species of feathers?  I.E. are certain ones reserved for royalty (like the color purple)?

[Dinobabe]

I tried looking on the net but couldn't find anything.  I would use the same values we do today.  i.e. Eagle feathers are very valuable and only available to Native Americans.  Search common/rare birds of the time and place.

[will paisley]

I'm thinking about replacing the feather that came with my caviler hat with a natural feather of some type.  The one it has now is a very bright dyed blue.  Is there any significance to different types or species of feathers?  I.E. are certain ones reserved for royalty (like the color purple)?

Historically, pheasant feathers got you in trouble, as wearing one meant you were poaching (unless you were a wealthy landowner).  The peasants usually wore goose feathers (when they had any feathers at all).

Practically speaking, at certain faires, purple feathers might get you some unwanted attention from a gender that may not match your orientation.

[temper]

Clan Blue Feather is a segment of the SCA.
http://www.bluefeather.org/about.htm

[justsomeguytn]

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Practically speaking, at certain faires, purple feathers might get you some unwanted attention from a gender that may not match your orientation.

Gotcha, stay away from purple.  My jerkin is kind of a tan velvet sort of material so I might use a pheasant feather.  Might not be 100 H/A but would probably look good.

[Betty Munro]

If you read the post about the SCA Clan Blue Feather, they are a group of gay/lesbian and supporters and denote themselves by wearing a blue feather.  So if you are specifically trying to avoid any confusion, avoid the blue feather too.
Personal experience is that despite what color feather you wear, nobody is going to just come up and start hitting on you.
Now if you show up wearing just a feather ...

So back to the true topic question, what feathers might cause a garb snark to have a field day with your choice of hat adornment?   

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

The colors of ostrich plumes that the Earl and I wear in our hats correspond with our garb colors mostly. 

They are feathers that are Gold, reds, black, some white.

[Sir Michael Geare]

Remember...the more exotic the feather, the higher your rank in the chain of being.  Pheasant is usually for higher stations as opposed to the more common feathers like goose, duck and pigeon.  Now peacock is most definitely reserved for nobility.  Ultimately, the color and type of feather you choose would need to compliment your particular outfit.  Whatever your decision may be, have an explanation of why you have that particular plume in the event you are questioned regarding it.

[Lady Renee Buchanan]

Whatever your decision may be, have an explanation of why you have that particular plume in the event you are questioned regarding it.

"Because it matches my gown......"   


We have been attending faires since 1981, and I've never had anybody ever question me on why I had the color feathers that I do.  In my eyes, the more the better.  If you're not on cast and don't have to answer to a costume director, wear what you like, and I wouldn't worry about the colors.

[Betty Munro]

Whatever your decision may be, have an explanation of why you have that particular plume in the event you are questioned regarding it.

"Because it matches my gown......"   


We have been attending faires since 1981, and I've never had anybody ever question me on why I had the color feathers that I do.  In my eyes, the more the better.  If you're not on cast and don't have to answer to a costume director, wear what you like, and I wouldn't worry about the colors.

I second Lady Renee.  A perfectly acceptable answer is, "because I like it"!  All the better if you care to be H/A, but you don't have to be. 
Not to detract from Sir Michael's requested educated answer to your question, we just want you to know that when it comes right down to it, you can do just about anything that strikes your fancy as long as you are not on cast.

[Anna Iram]

True, one could keep it as simple as putting any and as many feathers in your hat as you like just because, but wouldn't it be more fun to have a little story behind the why of each? I don't know what your character is. A cavalier can be many things, and perhaps you've not created a whole story about him, but if that angle of faire intrigues you this could be a fun chance to think about why "he" would adorn his hat with whichever color or type he chooses.  Perhaps to him a purple plume *does* represent royalty and by wearing one you are saying you consider yourself worthy to be in their presence. It would give your character a certain something *special*. You could certainly wear just a few well selected pheasants feathers or mix them in with more neutral black and white if you wish to keep the color palate simple.

A slight derailment here, but I thought you might find this amusing. I give you:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1374973/Pheasant-feathers-in-Queens-hat-are-message-to-critics.html

[Adriana Rose]

go with what you like. My Cav hat has black,purple,turquoise,green, Peacock feathers and a odd pheasnt feather.

Its what catches your fancy not what people think of you

[robert of armstrong]

wouldn't it be more fun to have a little story behind the why of each?

Pick what you want, and it may be as simple as the colors go with your garb.  I know I selected what is in my Cavalier hat for that reason (one brown ostrich and one pheasant).

But I agree, it may be fun to think of how your character came to have the feathers.  Something like they may be a tribute to honor a bird's soul that you had to kill for a meal on your travels, or as a token from an interested suitor, or the trophy of a battle with a huge flying creature that was trying to make a meal of you.

Just a thought.

[RumbaRue]

I make feather hat pins using parrot and other natural bird feathers. No ostrich stuff for me.
Sorry I don't have a website, but I do have some pictures of ones I have for sale, so if you or anyone else is interested, let me know. I do custom orders also. Note* Most of the ones in the pictures are small, but some do measure out to around 12 inches or so.
I currently have some very long red Macaw tail feathers which are extremely hard to come by. Those start at $35.00 and up- however I do not sell these ones individually due to the cost it was for me to acquire them..
You can by individual blue Macaw feathers from me, I have lots of  them. 

Treasured Feathers by Shari
http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y287/RumbaRue/Treasured%20Feathers/

[Hatter]

I have a friend that always assumes that more is better, because less is just less.