Bandeau: in clothing and fashion, the term means a narrow band of ribbon, velvet, etc., worn round the head. A wide range of materials make up a hair bandeau, including jewels, ribbons, cloth, and flowers. In some cases, a tiara can be said to be an elaborate form of the bandeau. This head band has been popular since the beginning of recorded history, for the decoration is flattering for almost any hair style. The bandeau provides an instant frame for curls, adds color, and can hold unruly hair in place. Bandeaux were quite popular during the Regency era as both formal and informal head wear.
Structured bandeau with feathers. Northanger Abbey (Cassie Stuart and Greg Hicks) 1986
In the image above, Isabella Thorpe’s bandeau resembles an open turban. It play an integral part in the hair design.
Court gown, 1799. This bandeau, worn for a formal event, also holds feathers, as in the above photo.
Bandeau made of ribbon, similar to the illustration below, but with the bow to the side. This is an informal use of a bandeau, which carries enough "weight" to serve as a headcover. Emma (Gwynneth Paltrow and Jeremy Northam) 1996
1812 La Belle Assemblee, evening dress and bandeau, which frames the curls beautifully.
Felicity as Catherine Morland (2007) wears a thin bandeau. This image is inaccurate in that ladies in those days did not venture outdoors without a head cover. We can tell that Isabella (Carey Mulligan) is “fast” for she reveals more of her bosom during the day than is ladylike and wears no hat while strolling through Bath.
Woman wearing a chemise dress (1799) and thin bandeau, and contemplating a hat.
The Countess of Oxford wears a thin ribbon bandeau. Painted by John Hoppner, 1797.
Rolinda Sharples painted a flower bandeau for the lady at front and center of this detail.
Thin satin or silk ribbon bandeau woven into the hair on the righ;, bandeaux made with pearls in the center two images; and gold ornamental combs in the hairstyle on the left.
Bandeau with long lace streamers. 1818 French court dress, La Belle Assemblee.
Bandeaux have been popular throughout the ages, and continue to be so.
Pompeii couple. The woman at left wears a thin bandeau.
Beaded bandeau from the Edwardian Era
Haley Steinfeld, 2011 Oscars
Gallery of Fashion – Women’s bandeaux
Jane Austen's World 
Vic
I’ve thought about using one on my short hair!
A very interseting post Vic with beautiful illustrations. I might consider wearing a bandeau myself!
So the huge fluffy “scrunchies” and headbands with poufy bows so popular in the 1980’s … really weren’t a wild fashion statement, but simply a reinvention of hair accessories worn throughout history.
I might be able to borrow a few from my daughter’s vanity…
Viva la Bandeau!
My daughters have always called them, “Alice bands,” after Alice in Wonderland.
Very good in schools to help girls avoid nits.
And on that note….
All the best,
Tony
Gwyneth’s bandeau is unfeasibly cute! It’s interesting seeing the photographs side by side with the prints – they actually look a lot more wearable in [costume drama] real life than I would have imagined. I might have to adopt one!
I loved the pics. It shows just a little can go a long way.
Oh I enjoyed that post and the images in it. I’m sure I remember Austen mentioning a bandeau in one of her letters. I did think Gwyneth Paltrow was excellent as Emma!
My favorite is how Gwyneth Paltrow’s is styled– all of her hairstyles in the film were very chic. Thank you for the interesting post, Vic!
Interesting post! I wear headbands all the time, now I know the history! Thank you!
Great post! Easy to see where our modern headbands came from, in fact I can see a lot of headbands and hairstyle now have borrowed from the regency era.
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