Modern takes on Elizabethan plaits and bun

After learning how to do basis plaits, french plaits and fishtail plaits, I wanted to research how celebrities have modernised these Elizabethan staples today. I will be practising different hairstyles over the next weeks to get my own design so I wanted to get inspiration for my look. 

Plaits (regular, french and fishtail)

Image 1

Rihanna

http://www.fansshare.com/gallery/photos/11243229/ws-rihanna-green-blouse/

Here, two french plaits have been done on either side of the parting and then both lead into a regular plait down one shoulder. I like how this incorporates two different styles of plaits and I would be interested in doing this too. The Elizabethan's tended to combine different plaits to make the design look more intricate. Rihanna's hair colour is a more intense version of Queen Elizabeth I's and it is a similar length. It is very neatly done, as it would have been, however I think the Elizabethan's would have wanted the hair to be pulled off the face more, instead of being shaped around the face.

Image 2

Rachel Adams
http://trendsurvivor.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Rachel-Adams-double-french-braids2.jpg

Image 3

Scarlett Johanson
http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/mp/0jTIFr5iQlql.jpg

Elizabethan Crown Braid
http://lhresources.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/detail-the-way-to-calvary-bassono-cropped.jpeg

Elizabethan women would often do a similar style of french plait to these (images 2 and 3), with the french plaits running along the tops of their heads; these are called crown braids. The Elizabethan women would most commonly just wrap two regular plaits all around their head, but I like how Scarlet Johanson has done the same, but just changing the regular plaits to a french plait. The look was kept very neat and all the hair is off her face, again relating back to the Elizabethans. 

Rachel Adams did a similar thing, with modernising the crown braid, but she doubled up the braids and made them into french plaits. She also kept her look a lot messier, with hair on her fair, unlike hoe the Elizabethan women would have worn theirs. She has added a low bun and added ribbons to the look which was a common accessory with Elizabethan women. 

Image 4

Missoni 2010 Fashion Showhttp://www.zeole.com/sanfrancisco/fishtail-plait-3624

This is an example of where fishtail plaits have been used in recent fashion shows. It looks as though the hair has been parted down the middle, french plaits have been put in both sides and the two fishtail plaits come down the back, close together. It is similar to Elizabethan hair in the way the hair has been pulled off the face and the hair has body on top, and also because more than one style of plait has been used. I think jewels or pearls or ribbon would need to be added to top off the look to make it look very Elizabethan.

Image 5

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IpjL1uqIR_c/UoTATo6n1NI/
AAAAAAAAAXc/cHnB_kEFOB8/s1600/updo3g.jpg

This is another example of how an Elizabethan hairstyle has been modernised. This looks like snood/caul, but instead of it being made out of rope or crochet, it is made out of hair. I'm not completely sure if the hair was pre made in this net shape or if it was done using extensions, but I really like how it looks! Jewels have also been added and the hair has been neatly scraped off the face, adding the Elizabethan feel of the hairstyle.

Image 6

https://jennishairdays.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/img_7288.jpg

I love how a red ribbon has been incorporated into this look and how the french plait has been adapted to become an inverted french plait. The hair has been parted down the centre and two inverted french plaits have been done. The ribbon has then been criss-crossed down the centre as if they are laces on a shoe. This hair style is very Elizabethan because of the decretive ribbon and tidy finish. The fact that the ribbon matches the outfit is another bonus!

Image 7

http://www.dreamweaverbraiding.com/images/Examples/Other/3stFig8Buns.jpg

This look incorporates buns and plaits. The hair has been parted down the middle, then a ponytail has been added on both sides that have been plaited. Both these plaits are then twisted into buns. I am not sure how they have achieved the plait that is getting wrapped round the buns, possibly a piece of hair was left out or extensions of headpieces were used. I can definitely imagine an Elizabethan women wearing this hair style, both upper class and lower class, because it keeps the hair off the face, but still looks very pretty and intricate. I could imagine a hat or headdress being placed securely on top of the plaits or jewels, pearls or ribbons being incorporated in the look.