Templars C. 1350 - 1390

The Reticulated Headdress or "Templars" came into fashion during the time period of King Edward III by his wife Queen Philippa. She brought this style to England from her home in Valenciennes, Belgium. (Valenciennes can be found today in Northern France) Queen Philippa can be seen wearing her "Templar" Headdress in the Edward the Confessor"s Chapel at Westminster Abbey. Also, effigies of Lady Harsick 1384 at South Acre in Norfolk and Lady Burton 1382 in Casterton Church in Rutlandshire can both be seen wearing this unique style headdress.

Women of the 14th Century attached great importance to the dressing of their hair and wanted to be in the height of fashion. So, hair began to be dressed in Queen Philippa's unique way. It was thought to be a "Most Beautiful Style".

The general form of dressing the hair was an excess of the mode of the previous reign. This style of wearing the hair originated in the hair being worn in two plaits, which was then worn vertically to the cheeks, forming a square frame for the face. (The young and the lower classes wore this simple fashion.) From this it progressed to the hair being confined in Gold, Silver or embroidered "Tubes" or "Cylinders" on either side of the face, suspended from a narrow band, a "Fillet" or "Coronet" worn about the head. This would have been encrusted in pearls and precious stones.

The Templars were considered "Court Wear", fit for State Occasions and special celebrations. With the Templars fine gauzy veils were worn, with pleats or a narrow trim that was highly decorated along with embroidery, according of course, to the position of the wearer.

By the 15th Century the "Templars" went out of fashion for about 70 years, but did re-emerge in 1469 as a new headdress, "Coronet Templars," worn by Queen Margaret of Scotland. (This new Headdress can be seen in pictures of Joan, daughter of Richard Neville, d.1487, wearing a set during the time of Richard III). These new 15th Century "Coronet Templars" followed the shape of the "Heart Shaped Hennin" in the way that it swept up from the brow of the head and encased the hair completely and were encrusted in pearls, jewels, Silver and Gold.