The first attempt I made was a stunning failure: I tried to twist the hangers together like I’d twisted the pipe cleaners in the mockup. Now, as dumb as that sounds, it’s clearly possible to get a tight twist on hangers, because they come with one. So you can see where I might have made the assumption. I was also cutting the wires into short lengths, which is really not easy on the hands. Ultimately, the working technique went like this:
Decapitate a hanger. You'll need 2 for each headdress. You should be using heavy wire cutters for this. I like to make the ends into little loopsie-doos so that I don't cut my hands up with the sharp ends. Use a long nose pliers.Use the jig to check the bend and length on the wires. I'm starting with the forehead piece and the front of the headband with my first hanger, then I'll do the whole band with the second. Both pieces will be used in the back V.Use a long nosed pliers to make sharp bends in the wire, then check the angle against the jig.End the wire with a loopsie-doo. You'll need it in the next step.Thread a pipe cleaner through the loopsie-doo.Clamp the loopsie closed as much as possible, so the pipe cleaner is secure.Wind the pipe cleaner around the wires to secure them together, thereby completing the shape.Here's a better view of the newly created form.Here we have both pieces of wire bent, and ready to be joined. (The odd bits on the side are the ear pieces, which I ultimately won't use. Oh, bother.)The completed form, all nicely bound up with pipe cleaners.
At this point, I have a working base. When it’s bent to just a little tight on the head (like a headband) it stays put – no wiggling or jiggling. Given that, I abandoned the silly ear pieces. As it turns out, these are a little rough on the hands to put together. Did I mention that I had to make 6? I went out and bought cloth covered florist wire for the upper cage structure that will hold the feathers….
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, […]