Headwear for a knight (not a helmet!)

[Poof Bird]

I've got my lady knight garb almost finished.  Tabard with my colors and heraldry (a bird, of course!), boots, my pirate pants cause I'm lazy, leather shoulder thingies that i forget the name of, bracers, and halfway done with my chainmaille mantle.  I was going to do a maille shirt, but there's no way I'll have it finished in time for our Ohio invasion.  Sword is on order, belt is getting stamped when I have a free moment here and there.

However!  I'm missing some sort of headwear.

Typically, yes, a knight wears a helmet, but really, I don't want to wear one of those.  too heavy and I wouldn't have the time to pound out my own steel right now (even though I totally want to try it!)  I've seen pictures of knights with arming caps, but aren't those usually worn under the helmet?

Perhaps a beret/floppy hat sort of thing?  I saw one of the knights at Carolina RF with one of those.  Or even just as simple as a ponytail?

Keep in mind, I want it to be obvious that I'm a Lady Knight. 

Any suggestions for me?  You all are always so helpful with this sort of thing!  Thanks in advance! 


- Poofie!

[serenamoonsilver]

How about a mail circlet or headress...like one of these, these, orthese

[analise]

I was thinking the floppy hat route. With a big feather!

Like this:


or this!


or this!

[isabelladangelo]

Padded coif with chainmail hood?

or just the padded coif?

A flat cap could work but, in period, women still wore a coif beneath it.  I'd just wear the coif.  There are some gorgeous extant ones with beautiful embroidery on them!

[gypsylakat]

you could also do something kind of interesting like wrapping your ponytail in leather... personally If I were fighting bad guys though i wouldn't wear a pony tail... to easy to grab on to...

[renren]

Huzzah! To your finished garb!
You go, girl knight!
Pics, please, when it's finished!

[Poof Bird]

I'd love to make a mille coif, and plan to do so as soon as I have time, but getting the mantle finished is going to be a challenge within itself.

Maille headress, hmm, interesting idea, but I think of those more for a wench sort of look.  I do have one I made, so I may try the look.

I'm more then likely going to go the route of the floppy hat with a wired brim or else a beret sort of thing.  Birds always needs lots of feathers, afterall!

And totally, I'll get pics of my garb!  I'm doing a Loveland Castle feast after our Ohio Invasion, so what better place to get pics then at an authentic Knight's Castle? 

Thanks for the pics and suggestions!

[Poof Bird]

Update!  I'm in the process of making a beret without a big brim.  I have a beret from a while ago that I made with a brim on it, but it just didn't look good on my head.  So, I'm going to make it with my colors and add a big long white feather!  It's gonna look nice!

Kinda like this: http://www.royalfaires.com/carolina/images2/Media/P_J_11.jpg

[Scarlett]

Have you considered a leather headband?  Griffin Works Leather makes some nice ones with a variety of conchos.  Best of all, they are adjustable.  I know a woman who dresses mostly in leather and her headband looks great with her garb.

[Poof Bird]

ooo, that could be a neat idea!  I may poke around with that!  Thanks for the input!

[Blue66669]

I work for Castle K'zar Leatherworks, and we have a lot of nifty designs for leather headpieces. There's one called the "Valkyrie" that is really awesome. Check out www.castlekzar.com and check out some of the pics!

[gypsylakat]

k'zars cataloge us down, at least on my computer...

[Blue66669]

OH!!! Silly monkey. If you go to the pictures, you can see the products. The catalogue isn't up and running yet.

[Sir William Marcus]

[Femme Falchion]

Lady Poofbird....be sure to post your new garb pictures!  Can't wait to see.  I am entertaining my own thoughts of a new Cavalleras ensemble....

also, please stop by the Following Orders thread, more Lady Knights are needed in the Orders!