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NECESSITY TO ACCESSORY The wide-ranging evolution of the headscarf: from religious texts to TikTok. words by Kate Regan illustrations by Sophia Dyer
The headscarf, which has been seen more recently as a TikTok trend or on your favorite influencer promoting their Parade discount code, hasn’t always been worn as a fun accessory. Used in the Museum of Modern Art’s exhibit as one of the 111 objects that defined the last century of fashion and popularized by pop culture icons like Audrey Hepburn, Queen Elizabeth, and Jackie O., the headscarf originated way before Hollywood existed. From mentions as early as the Bible to as recent as your spring trend Pinterest board, the headscarf has been a consistent part of fashion worldwide. Early religious ties The Bible disgraces women from cutting or shaving their hair and requires them to cover their heads — but lucky for us, things have progressed a little in the 21st century. In the Assyrian Empire, laws required women to practice “veiling” to mark their social standings and marital status. Headscarves were forbidden to prostitutes and lower-class women, who risked public humiliation or arrest if this regulation was broken. The headscarf was additionally born out of necessity to protect the heads of the higher class from the rain and sun and help keep hair cleaner. Throughout history, head coverings have been worn for spiritual beliefs, cultural significance, practicality, and fashion. Whatever the reason, it’s important to note that covering the head is a personal choice. Certain religions mention the importance of the headscarf in their sacred texts. More conservative groups still uphold these traditions, from Catholic nuns who wear a habit, to married Orthodox Jewish women who wear a tichel — a type of headscarf — or sheitel, a wig. In Islam, the Quran's verses about modesty have been interpreted in different ways, with some regarding head covering as obligatory and others as a choice. Political systems, geography, and ethnicity also play a crucial role in how and if women choose to cover their heads or hair. France has recently decided to ban any girl under the age of 18 from wearing a Hijab. While some believe that Hijabs are foundationally oppressive, taking away the choice to wear a Hijab is the actual oppression. The impact of Hermès Beginning in the 1910s, French fashion houses were dreaming up designs that included colorful,
