Arabic head dresses??

[Badluck Brody]

Though I might just get an old fez at a local resale shop.. Anyone know how to wrap an arabic style head dress???

I thought it would be a good change from the typical fedoras and such, for some adventure weekends we have planned for the summer...

Just thought someone might have a suggestion or two... SO thanks in advance!

 

[mineral]

You mean, the keffiyeh? Here's a way to put the thing on:

http://www.actiongear.com/agcatalog/shemagh.html

 

[dhermann1]

My brother and I came back from our family's trip to the eastern Mediterranean in 1962, including Egypt and Lebanon, with one each. If you watch that great flick, "Lawrence of Arabia", you'll get complete instructions on all the many ways you can wrap one of those around your head. They're great because there are so many variations, depending on the conditions.

 

[Badluck Brody]

You guys rock!!!

Very cool!

ANy idea about the different fabrics that can be used???

And isn't there a bigger version of it with more wraps and such???

 

[Doctor Strange]

I have several keffiyehs that friends got for me on trips to Israel back in the 60s/70s (from my childhood hat-collecting phase). All of them are square pieces of loose-weave cotton roughly the same size, though there are variations in the patterns, colors, and decorations (one has little fringe-balls all around the edges). You just fold the square in half to make a triangle, and put the long folded edge over the front of your head. You can leave the sides flowing loose, or put either or both sides up for greater face protection. It really is the classic desert headwear, which is why it's been worn for thousands of years.

I also have a couple of agals (headbands) for the keffiyehs: one is a simple black rope affair, but the other is a much fancier piece with different colored threads and beads, like you see worn by rich merchants and nobles in films.

 

[DominusTecum]

I'm largely ignorant on the subject, so this might be a silly question, but is a keffiyeh the same thing as a turban?

 

[BellyTank]

Turban

Hello-

A turban is more of a head-dress, which forms a kind of "hat"- to be very silly.
A length of cloth is "wound" around the head and fastened.

The most famous is probably the "Pugaree" of the Sikhs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turban_(Sikhism)

http://www.ghiss.org/gallery/camp2006/Pagri/index.html

Here is a Pagri tying tutorial on Youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kphlX9gcX0&feature=related

There are many regional variations on the winding, tying and size and shape of even Sikh Pagris-
This gentleman is definitely from the state of Punjab, home of Sikh-dom.

Of course there are many other South-Asian and North-African styles.



B
T

 

[Badluck Brody]

very cool!

WHich is the kind you see worn by the market place assassins in such films like Raiders and such???

I also noticed a variation which was worn by the hangman in the Mummy, which included a fez..... And was also wondering about what uniform variations were worn by the British support troops in the regions...

Thanks again!

 

[ukali1066]

I'm a muslim so I think I can offer some info, I've worn both in the past...

The turban is called an "Imama" in Arabic, basically a long length of cotton that is wrapped around a hat, the fez is good to use as it's tall...you can leave a tail or not, both are acceptable, usual colours are black or white, Afghani's wear huge striped ones which are very striking.

http://www.k5.dion.ne.jp/~museum/headdress/imama.htm

You just wrap it tightly around the hat whilst it's on your head, and tuck the end in, now if you've tied it well you should be able to remove the hat and the Imama should stay intact, you may find it easier to tie the Imama when it's damp if you're getting it too bulky on the Fez...

This is one to really impress if you're going to an Arab country, it's a practice of the prophet Muhammad that is largely discarded these days and you'll get a lot of compliments and questions...

Here's some pics to help...

 

[Doctor Strange]

See the Wiki page for how the keffiyeh with agal differs from a turban. There's a picture of T.E. Lawrence a bit down the page that's a good example:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keffiyeh

 

[Dr Doran]

I have been thinking about getting a fez lately, but more on the level of a retro Americana secret men's club type thing (a la Shriners) than authentic. I know Kemal Ataturk banned them in Turkey.

 

[Badluck Brody]

Actually...

I just picked up a thick red wool fez for ten bucks at a resale shop.

It's probably an old shriner's lid and kind of tall. But I think I could cut it down and use it more like Benny or the warden in the Mummy....

 

[Dr Doran]

Excellent -- I try to keep a few items to annoy my wife, and she already HATES HATES HATES my monocle, so that plus a fez and perhaps a smoking jacket or robe will do the trick ----

 

[Badluck Brody]

In the dog house???

After my buying two new Baileys before Christmas, my new fez two days ago and now getting caught in the midst of a "Fred & Barney" scheme to pick up and modify an Akubra-Riverina http://www.outbackoutlet.com/shop/item.asp?itemid=77 my only option is to try my hand at a home-made keffiyeh!!!

You think a light weight linen would be period acceptable???

 

[BellyTank]

YES!

Very light.

B
T

 

[Rooster]

I probably wouldn't wear Arab headgear here in the midwest, Liable to get a bullet hole through it.lol Best save it for the desert where there are fewer "good ol' boys".

 

[Badluck Brody]

...never been worried!

After 10 years serving Uncle Sam and now wearing the badge that I do... the last thing I really worry about is some good ol boy or side-way shooting gangbangers.

So I figure after all the crap I've lived through, if I want to dress in a full rabbit suit like the kid in Christmas Story, I doubt some hillbilly is gonna..... Ah your probably right... They'll shoot at anything!!!:eusa_doh:

 

[jkingrph]

I have been thinking about getting a fez lately, but more on the level of a retro Americana secret men's club type thing (a la Shriners) than authentic. I know Kemal Ataturk banned them in Turkey.

Yep, I spent two years in Turkey back in the early 70's and never saw a fez, but lots of fedoras.

I was either wearing my AF hat or a western type straw at the time.

 

[Alan Eardley]

The shemagh or keffiyah (spelling optional) that is worn by the Bedu is woven from rough cotton. The designs and colours are tribal and local. You can tell a lot about someone from their 'cloth'. Some people are offended if a design is worn by someone who is not 'entitled' to it, although that doesn't seem to stop merchants selling them to tourists.

The same garment worn in other places in Arabia (e.g. Saudi Arabia) tends to be plain white. All are roughly the same size and shape, but some are fancier than others, having fringed or tasselled edges. The British Army has official issue military versions with a stamp!

I wear a shemagh regularly in the UK as a scarf and as it is meant to be worn (with a agal) when I'm in Arabia. It is the most practical headwear in the desert.

Alan

Very cool!

ANy idea about the different fabrics that can be used???

And isn't there a bigger version of it with more wraps and such???

 

[Alan Eardley]

The fez hat is worn in Algeria and Morocco (it is named after the town of Fez. of course).

Alan

Yep, I spent two years in Turkey back in the early 70's and never saw a fez, but lots of fedoras.

I was either wearing my AF hat or a western type straw at the time.