ARTICLE
Fads From The Past: Cone-Shaped Princess Hats
The iconic princess hats of Medieval Europe were modeled after the ‘Boqta’ of Mongolian Queens.
When searching for princess costumes, the cone-shaped headdress will undoubtedly make an appearance at some point. This iconic, cylindrical hat quickly became a symbol for princesses and femininity; oftentimes featured in fairytale art, and historical films to depict a woman of high social status.
Deemed the hennin (or henin), it was a very popular fashion item amongst high-class European women in the 15th century. They had a variety of shapes and styles; some were conical and pointy, whereas others had flat tops.
Similar to the very pointy shoes present in men’s fashion of that period, the length of the hennin determined the wearer’s social status. The taller and more intricate it was, the more important (and wealthy) they were.
The hennin had to be worn at an angle and on the back of the head—with their hair barely visible—as to emphasize the wearer’s facial features and elongate their forehead as much as possible. This is…
