Friday, June 14, 2013

The Beautiful And Versatile Red Turban

By Mara Boone


Simple head wraps, or turbans, have been around for many centuries all over the world. Dating back to at least the 14th century, their religious symbolism, practicality and appeal have made them a fashion staple with universal popularity. The red turban is known to be a powerful and assertive style of turban, particularly when worn on modern day women.

It's important to note that turbans aren't always simply a fashion statement. Wraps have been worn as a state of religious adornment both currently and historically in many parts of the world. In areas such as the Middle East, Central and South Asia, the Philippines and Africa, wraps are worn to signify both religious and tribal affiliation. The color of one's turban can be meaningful; green wraps on Muslim men symbolize the religious representation of paradise. White is considered a holy color, and the prophet Mohammed is believed to have worn a white wrap for this reason. In North Africa, differing shades of blue turbans can symbolize the tribe one belongs to.

Turbans are worn primarily as fashion accessories by women in modern, Western society. In addition to being attractive and fashionable, a head wrap can be handy for keeping a woman's hair up and out of her face. The 17th century painting "Girl With a Pearl Earring" by Jan Vermeer is one the earliest known showcases of turbans as a fashion statement for women. Wraps lost some of their popularity in the 19th century, but became fashionable again in the 20th century due to their popularity with socialites and starlets.

In the 1930's and 1940's, the turban signified a cultured and dignified woman. The films "Lady of the Tropics" (1939) and "The Postman Always Rings Twice" featured protagonists who dominated the screen in wraps. The white head wrap in the latter film symbolized the contrast between the apparent purity of the wrap and the villainous nature of the character.

In the 1970's, women stopped using wraps to cover their hair and began using them to accessorize it. Long, straight hair flowing beneath a colorful turban became synonymous with cutting edge style and beauty in this decade. This era gave rise to a whole new way to wear turbans, and they have since shown up on celebrities and runways alike in a variety of different styles.

Even British Royalty occasionally wear turbans instead of the hats they are so well known for. Queen Elizabeth has been known to wear head wraps for special occasions. The versatility and appeal of wraps seem to be universal.

The wrap has come along way from it's 14th century roots as a simple piece of cloth wrapped around the head. Modern turbans can be made of nearly any fabric, from silk to satin to cotton to knit. They can be bejeweled, beaded, braided, or otherwise decorated. There are styles to suit nearly any occasion, and the possibilities are limitless.

Many in Western culture associate the color red with strength, power and passion. Red is commonly believed to be a "power" color. A red turban, whether plain or dazzling, is a great way to convey strong, assertive beauty while still giving a nod to simplicity and tradition.




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