Men and Headpieces

 

 Throughout history, the male has been the more prevalent sex to wear a headpiece.  Cave paintings indicate that the first men wore head adornments such as flowers, feathers, and animal horns.  Ancient sanskrit speaks often of headresses for men, generally white and ornamented.  The early Greeks during the bronze age are known to have headdresses.  In Greek mythology, most of the Greek gods are seen with fillets.  A fillet is a circlet of flowers or jewels worn on the head.  Fillets were also worn by men during the Rennaissance.  Men wore aigrettes (a tuft or plume) usually in a turban during the Ottoman period in Turkey.  The American Indian male also wore headdresses to indicate important positions of leadership.  Other indiginous peoples such as the Aztecs and Mayans also wore headdresses often of feathers, furs, skins, and beads.  These headdresses are still worn by males today usually in tribal dances. 
     It is my feeling that men outside of the indiginous populations should join in and wear headdresses at least on their wedding day when they are in a position to show off their regalia.  Grooms and brides can take this accessory and play it in any way that they like.  It can come from any of the aforementioned historical influences, or just be a completely modern creation.  I have created a small headpiece with the flavor of a Greek mythological god.  It is beautifully embroidered with gold thread and has a very regal flair.  There are sparkling, yet subtle, crytsals with a gold plated band.  This is my first male headpiece, but the response has been tremendous.  I am in the process of designing more male headdresses that can be worn in great style.