Sunday 23 July 2017

Crash Helmet


Crash helmets or motorcycle helmets are designed to protect the users from head injury.


Wearing a helmet when riding a motorbike is mandatory in the UK and they have to be designed to comply with safety and build standards.

Since the introduction of helmets, they have reduced head injury by nearly 70% and death by over 40% they have even believed to have reduced spinal damage.










Helmets can vary in design from open face pudding basin shape to full all round enclosed helmet with a visor like this one. 
This helmet also includes vents and a drop down internal sun visor.


I don't own or ride a motor bike I purchased these helmets for part of a set of sci-fi space suits costumes as below.



Interesting fact (maybe) wearing a white helmet reduces your chance of road accident by 25% compared to a black helmet, is that because those with white helmets are the more sensible road user or because they can be seen easier?

Sunday 16 July 2017

Nefertiti Hat


This home made hat is based on the Nefertiti hat/crown


Nefertiti was a Queen of Egypt from 1370 BC to 1330 BC


This hat was made as a lrp prop and not historically accurate in any shape or form, plus its made of cardboard and felt.


To make this hat I made a basic paper pattern by trial and error and then transferred it to some thicker card.


Lots of glue and staples later I got the basic shape.


Which I then covered in felt and gold leather look fabric.


before finally glueing on some gem cake decorations.



Below in use 



Sunday 9 July 2017

Egyptian Kerchief


Egyptian Kerchief head covering is based on an actual remains recovered from tombs




















The fabric has one straight edge about 60 cm long and rounded off back edge measuring 45 cm front to back and then the tape is about 80mm long. I made 10 of these for a lrp event in an afternoon from scraps of fabric.

Having made these I think the front to back measurement should be increased perhaps to 50cm



The fabric is wrapped around the forehead, tied at the back of the head and then draped over.


And provides a nice simple head covering which protects the back of the head from the sun.


 Images from an event, with the kerchief I made from off white cotton



Monday 3 July 2017

Nemes


The Nemes is the striped head cloth worn by pharaohs and nobility in ancient Egypt.


Most famously seen on King Tutankhamun burial mask 


The Nemes extension to the typical Egyptian headcloth or kerchief worn by many ancient Egyptians it covers the whole crown shoulders and drapes down past the the neck. Each side are 2 large flats which should hang down behind the ears past both shoulders on to the chest.


.All the images I've seen also show striped fabric.


.Like this one they also can include a decorated crown. 


Purchased from lrp market selling second kit

Saturday 24 June 2017

Waxed Cotton Wide Brimmed Hat


Described as a Aussie-style hat on most of the web sites you would purchase it from, this is very practical waterproof hat that also give goods sun protection with its wide brim


Made from waxed cotton typical of the outdoor country style of clothing you will see worn by gentry, farmers, river and pond fishers, game keepers and the like.

Waxed cotton is very tough practical weather resistant fabric with a very particular but not unpleasant smell.


Waxed clothing originated in the sailing industry, but the less stiff paraffin waxing process used in garments today did not come about until the 1920's and was produced in Britain by 3 companies who equipped the British army with garments made of it.

Barbour the most famous creators of waxed cotton country garments today, started using it for motor cycle clothing in the 1930's and back then was only available in black or an inconstant olive green colour. 
Modern waxes come in many colours but olive green is still the main colour choice.























Friday 16 June 2017

Chewbacca Hat


This novelty hat was a Christmas gift, turns out to be a warm comfortable hat, but still not sure where I would want to wear it.


Its meant to be Chewbacca from Star Wars head, although could be a golden poodle hat as well



Thursday 8 June 2017

Medieval Felt Hat


This tall hat, now looking a bit crushed was used roughly between 1320 and 1590, although apparently not worn in the early Tudor period, it did reappeared during the Elizabethan. 


This is felt hat made by shaping felt with hot water or steam.







Thursday 1 June 2017

Rice Paddy Hat With Danglely Bits


The Vietnamese conical rice farmers hat or Non La can be made of straw, palm leaves, bamboo or matting.


What makes the Vietnamese style stands out from other Asian straw hats is its it perfect cone shape, tapering smoothly from top point to rim.


Like all straw hats they are used as protection from sun and rain, but can be soaked/dipped in water and used as a cooling aid as the water evaporates.


Many of these hat have hand stictched words on them or poems, this one has ribbon dangling from its brim, which are purely for decoration.