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| Mamalouc Cap image credit: https://austenonly.com/2011/03/13/balls-and-mysterious-caps-at-hackwood-park/) |
“We
happened to sit by the Mitchells, and they pretended to be quite surprized to
see me out. I knew their spite: -- at one time they could not be civil to me,
but now they are all friendship; but I am not such a fool as to be taken in by
them. You know I have a pretty good spirit of my own. Anne Mitchell had tried
to put on a turban like mine, as I wore it the week before at the concert, but
made wretched work of it.” Northanger
Abbey chapter 27
Isabella is in a desperate mood. She had her affair with Frederick
Tilney and lost James Morland. She has badly misjudged everything. She needs to
work her way back into Catherine’s affection. To demonstrate her spirit and
judgment to Catherine she tells how she can see right through the Mitchells and
their false civility as she certainly saw through Frederick Tilney’s, but she
cannot resist a dig at poor Anne Mitchell’s turban.
Of course Catherine is having none of it.
“Such
a strain of shallow artifice could not impose even upon Catherine. Its inconsistencies,
contradictions, and falsehood struck her from the very first. She was ashamed
of Isabella, and ashamed of having ever loved her. Her professions of
attachment were now as disgusting as her excuses were empty, and her demands
impudent. "Write to James on her behalf! -- No, James should never hear
Isabella's name mentioned by her again."” Northanger Abbey chapter 27
It is very natural that Isabella would attack
Anne Mitchell for her shoddy turban since wearing appropriate yet fashionable headwear
was important to a lady’s appearance.
Jane Austen often mentions
headwear in her letters. Writing in January 1799, about the time she was working
on Northanger Abbey, Jane Austen wrote:
“The
Ball at Kempshott is this Evening…I am not to wear my white sattin cap to night
after all; I am to wear a Mamalouc cap instead…” Deidre Le Faye, Jane Austen’s Letters, Fourth Edition,
p. 34.
The author of the Austenonly blog has done a great job
tracking down exactly what was a Mamalouc cap. It’s kind of a combination
turban plus fez as pictured at the top of this post. (https://austenonly.com/2011/03/13/balls-and-mysterious-caps-at-hackwood-park/)
On another occasion she mentions wearing a bandeau-like
headpiece.
“I
wore at the Ball your favorite gown, a bit of muslin of the same round my head,
border’d with Mrs Cooper’s band--& one little comb—“
Deidre Le Faye, Jane Austen’s Letters, Fourth edition, p.56
If these instructions are not quite enough to teach you how
to construct a proper bandeau or turban, come to the next meeting of JASNA
CWNY. Our own regional coordinator and Regency dress expert will be leading a
workshop on Regency Turbans and Bandeaus.
The details are below.
Please note we are meeting in a different location.
Event: JASNA CWNY October Meeting
Topic: Lisa Brown presenting a Turban adn Bandeau Workshop
Where: NOTE LOCATION CHANGE
Brighton Library Learning Center, 2300 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14618
When: Saturday, October 15, 2016 at 1 pm
Extra: Please bring a long rectangular scarf to make your own turban
 |
| A turban from a previous turban workshop |
Please note we are meeting in a different location.
Event: JASNA CWNY October Meeting
Topic: Lisa Brown presenting a Turban adn Bandeau Workshop
Where: NOTE LOCATION CHANGE
Brighton Library Learning Center, 2300 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14618
When: Saturday, October 15, 2016 at 1 pm
Extra: Please bring a long rectangular scarf to make your own turban
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