Hi Wrapunzelers!

I have been on the road a lot this summer. And while packing for road trips, vacations, and extended trips has been discussed often on the Wrapunzel blog, what-to-wear while traveling hasn’t been as frequently mentioned.

I primarily find myself sitting in a car for 3-6 hours. Unfortunately, due to my current stage of life we tend to also spend every 45 minutes trying to find someone a bathroom. My tichel needs to hold up to some fairly high standards: I want to comfortably sleep in the passenger seat, but I also need to either remain in pristine condition or become presentable in a manner of seconds in order to rush someone into a random restaurant in the middle of no-where’s-ville US.

So, here are some of my tricks and tips.

• Buy one of those plane neck pillows. (Just trust me, you’ll want it in the car!) Then stick it around your neck when you are initially making your ponytail/bun and tying your tichel at home. I know, it looks dorky, but you are just leaving it on for a manner of minutes and then putting it somewhere where you can easily access it in the car. This will guarantee that your bun isn’t located in a position that it winds up squashed at the nape of your neck. During the trip, you can nap just that much more comfortably.
• I love sashes and headbands and gorgeous clips (I’ve never been a pin girl), but I leave them in my luggage during the traveling part of a trip. Pins, clips, and metal headbands are too “pokey” to wear for extended time, and an elastic headband can become viselike if there are too many things at the nape of your neck.
• I prefer to wear two 2 in 1s in a single braid. That particular tie looks nice, holds up to either air conditioning, heating, or rolled down windows, and doesn’t feel “heavy” (a thick tailed pashmina can make you overheat). When I’m in the car relaxing I take my braid and unfasten it so that it’s gently lying on my side.   When I have to leave the car, I quickly lift it up around my scrunchy (or volumizer if you use one – most ladies like to take the volume down a notch in the car) and tuck in the ends. Why don’t I just leave my braid down? Well, going back to “particular stage of life” comment, I tend to find that an unpinned braid acts as a bell pull for my energetic youngest. If this does not apply to you, then feel free to never pin your braid up, but I spend a ridiculous amount of car time helping children in public restrooms. It just doesn’t work for me.

   

• Figure out which is your “napping side”. Most people don’t sleep in the car with their heads sticking straight ahead. The chances are that you lean your head towards your shoulder while sleeping. Figure out what side you tend to lean on, and then tie your tichel so that the braid will drape on the OPPOSITE side.

Happy road trip!

Love,

Tamar Adina

We’re getting so much joy from these jersey panels!  Here’s an easy, elegant way to wrap them!

We’re loving this awesome idea started by Abby Ritter on our Fangroup. Wrapunzelistas are wrapping all over the world… roll call time! Take a picture of yourself in a tichel in one of your favorite places – hometown or elsewhere! Use the hashtags #WhereIWrap and #[your city]Wrapunzelista to share your pictures with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@wrapunzelstore)!

Here’s some from us!

Andrea’s #WhereIWrap: Outside the walls of the gorgeous Old City in Jerusalem! #JerusalemWrapunzelista

Naomi Rose’s #WhereIWrap:  At the amazing Public Market! #RochesterWrapunzelista

Yum, nectarines!

So where do YOU wrap? Can’t wait to see your pictures!!!

Hi Everyone!

We talk a lot here about modesty and how that relates to how we choose to dress!  It’s definitely long overdue that I recorded some of my thoughts on modest dressing.  These are things that I often say, but never actually sat down to put on video!  Enjoy and can’t wait to hear your thoughts!

We all know that wearing a tichel can attract a lot of attention. It may be modest, but it is different, and we often find that people show an interest in our behavior or values just based on the way we dress! So with all of that focus on us, what are some ways we can display our values positively?

Let’s start with words. We know not to gossip or slander, but what about positive speech?

Check out this amazing and inspiring conversation we had about the art of the compliment!

When I got engaged, Wrapunzel was just a little (although fabulous) blog. There was no store yet, but my relationship with Andrea led me to a lot of exposure to great wrapping technique. I loved the scarves she wore, and I watched her videos in the days leading up to my wedding. After my marriage, and especially as Wrapunzel grew, I explored almost every type of wrap I was exposed to. I collected scarves in every color, pattern and texture under the sun. I tried every tutorial and video. And I got good, really good, at wrapping.

practicing wrapping in the pre-wedding days

 

Eventually, though, I realized that ‘having it all’ wasn’t what it was cracked up to be. More and more, I would have the disappointing experience of finding a scarf that I LOVED in the store, or in the photo on a model… but once I had it, it just didn’t work on me. Or I would find this amazing style that a fan had made a tutorial for. It looked absolutely royal on her, so how come it just looked awkward when I tried it? Even more confusingly, by this point, I knew it wasn’t due to bad technique. I was doing everything right, so why did it feel wrong?

On the flip side, I had discovered several colors, scarves, and wrapping techniques that were absolutely 100% dependable. When I wore these, I felt like “me.” They were easy, comfortable, elegant and happy. On the days when I tried those tutorials and scarves that just frustrated me, I would end up after hours of trying going back to these, that I came to think of as my ‘classics.’

one of the first true personal ‘classics’ I found – a layered Shira Tails wrap. I LOVED wearing this!

 

I recently started reading a book called “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up,” by Marie Kondo, with my husband. It’s about getting your house into order. The author’s central idea is that we create the best environment for ourselves when we select only the belongings that bring us joy, and release ourselves of the obligation and responsibility to keep everything else. It’s a brave and difficult thing to do (especially with the amount of purposeless clutter most of us accumulate), but this little idea has been creeping its way into other parts of my life and even into my tichel wardrobe.

My closet. And actually, there’s a third railing since this photo was taken. Option overload!!!

 

When I come across something new, I am still going to try it. A tutorial, or scarf that I think I might like – it’s worth a try, and I don’t want to miss what might become a new ‘classic’! But if I try it and it doesn’t work, I’m going to decide that it’s a great wrap, but just not for me. And that’s actually something to celebrate: I learned a lesson about what works and what doesn’t! A valuable piece of information!

It’s not a bad thing that not everything is my style. In fact, I would much rather be surrounded by a smaller amount of scarves, all of which I love. I don’t need to own every scarf type, wear every color, or do every wrapping style. I am releasing myself of the obligation to have it all, and to keep trying wrap styles that don’t make me feel good. I’m giving all those unused scarves to other homes, where they will be loved and appreciated. I am giving up, and it feels so good! Will you join me in giving up what’s holding you back?

Love,
Naomi Rose

So after the insanely viral response to this photo we posted yesterday…

… we decided to take it a step further and make a super detailed informational video all about how to wear the no-slip headband, oomphtastic scrunchy, and the three wrapunzel tichel shapers!  We enlisted in the help of 16 year old Elisheva, and since she doesn’t (yet) cover her hair, this allowed us to show you how to wear ’em from step A – aka morning bedhead!  In this tutorial, we show the difference that a high/low bun of hair makes, shaper placement techniques, and different ways to tie the scarf to “shape the shaper”.  We hope that this gives you the tools and freedom to experiment and really find the perfect shaper technique for you!  Enjoy!

We’ve received an overwhelming amount of requests to hear from Samantha, our historical clothing expert lady wrap star!  So here is her first tutorial!  We can’t wait to try it out!

It’s funny, I sometimes won’t wear my favourite outfits because I’m always looking to try new things, but over the past few weeks I’ve needed some comfort, so I put on colors that I knew would make me smile in cuts of clothing that I knew were flattering… loved this!

I’ve been avoiding necklaces during the day because of grabby little baby hands, but you can use your imagination and put a nice dark gold necklace on me in both these outfits!  😉

Teal and light brown shimmeries… the best!

And my new favourite clip with an awesome skirt!  It was seriously raining outside but I was dancing!

It’s a good reminder to go back to your favourites, right?  Have you ever had an experience like this?  We’d love to hear about it!

Check out Rachel E.’s new sari tutorial!  She uses our tried and true Wrapunzel techniques but takes it to a whole new level!  Love it!

I am literally bouncing with excitement that I get to introduce Samantha to you!  She’s a professional seamstress, and historical clothing expert!  Her love of hair covering stems from her truly understanding its roots and how it connects us to the women that came before us.  Read on, read on!!

Hi Samantha, can you tell us a little about yourself?  Your background, where you live, favourite things, how you spend your time, hobbies, etc.?

I was born and raised in Southern California, but have spent the last four years in Michigan and then Virginia (hopefully permanently!). My husband is Michael and we recently celebrated our second wedding anniversary. For my entire life I have loved all sorts of creative activities, from writing and drawing to singing and dancing. Now most of my creative energy is focused on sewing, although I still create sketches for most of the projects I make. My husband and I met through our mutual love of historical clothing and living history reenactments, so that is often how we can be found spending our weekends and vacations (when we’re not sewing…).

What led you to start wrapping your hair?  How did you find Wrapunzel?

I feel I have always been drawn to head coverings, whether they were hats, caps, bonnets, or scarves. When I covered my head, I felt peaceful and safe. Something about it just felt “right”! Some of my early wrapping attempts as a teen were met with gentle jokes from my family, who probably chalked it up to my artistic nature. My dear friend Maggie helped me embrace my interest in wrapping my hair a couple years ago, and bought me my first Wrapunzel kit! I had seen some Wrapunzel images around the web, but Maggie was my true introduction and inspiration. Watching her cover her hair every day gave me the courage to begin wrapping more often with confidence. This past year I have also been struggling with a physical injury that has severely limited how much I can sew (which is a bit difficult when you believe that sewing is your calling). I began wrapping much more often because of this. Wrapping has provided me with an alternative outlet for expressing my creativity and myself. I’ve been able to divert some of my creative energy from sewing to coming up with new wraps and outfits. It’s been very therapeutic. 

Can you tell us about your style and your greatest fashion inspirations?

The best way to describe my style is “eclectic”! I am inspired by so many things for my everyday wardrobe, like vintage fashions. I really like my outfits to look cohesive and thoughtful, which is something I see a lot in vintage fashion. That doesn’t mean match-matchy, just complimentary. I also think about whether or not a particular garment or outfit is flattering to my body type and/or coloring. But perhaps most importantly, I wear what brings me joy! And that extends to covering my hair. I believe I have many different facets as a person, and my clothing reflects those different facets. So I might wear completely vintage clothing one day and very modern clothing the next day. It might be preppy, boho, or punk, whatever fits my mood. 

What is your FAVOURITE thing about covering?

I honestly think my favorite thing about covering has been the connections I have made with other women that I wouldn’t have otherwise made. It has deepened existing friendships and acted as the catalyst for new ones. Women at work have told me how much they like my different wraps and brought in their own scarves so that I could show them some techniques. I might not have gotten to known them if it weren’t for covering! The Wrapunzel community is one of the most beautiful groups of women I have ever encountered. I always feel uplifted when I see women of all different faiths and walks of life being brought together through a mutual love of covering their hair. 

Has covering changed how you feel about yourself and the world around you?  If so, how?

Covering has made me much more self-conscious–and I don’t mean in a bad way! I am much more aware of how I conduct myself in public–partly because I just feel different when I cover and partly because I know that people are more likely to notice me when I cover. I want to be the best version of myself that I can be when interacting with other people, and covering helps me do that. Having my hair covered reminds me that I wear a crown on my head as a daughter of the King! I have also noticed that covering really makes me feel safe. My husband recently went abroad for two weeks and we had very little contact. I really embraced covering my hair during that period, and it helped me feel safe even though we were apart.

I know you are a historian with a speciality in historical clothing.  Please tell us about this and how does hair covering relate to what you do?  What can we learn, as women that cover today, from the women that covered before us?

My husband and I both work for museums and specifically create and wear historical clothing. Most of the pictures I post in the Wrapunzel fan group are taken in my museum’s costume shop, where I work. Clothing of the past is beautiful and fascinating for many people, but I also believe that clothing can tell us so much about a culture at a certain point in time, as well as tell us something about ourselves today. For most of the time periods we work in, women have some sort of covering on their heads, whether it’s a cap, bonnet, hat, or turban. While the ancient roots are in modesty, it is mostly for fashion! There’s also a practical reason that women covered their hair, especially with caps, because it helps keep the hair clean from dirt and the ash and smoke of working and living with fires. One of the most common questions we get wearing historical clothing is “Are you hot in that???”. I was so excited when I watched Andrea’s video addressing his very same issue, because her answers were exactly the same as the ones we tell visitors who ask us that. People of the past weren’t stupid. In many ways, they were smarter than us about things we have forgotten because of technology. Wearing all natural fibers, keeping your skin covered from the sun, wearing light colors—the people of the past were experts at dressing for the weather. 

Women today often don’t wear hats or anything on their heads unless it’s for a specific activity. Whenever I feel nervous or odd for having my head covered, I remember that women across cultures have been covering their heads for thousands of years, and it’s really only within the last 50 years that it has fallen out of fashion for Western women. Women have had their heads covered for much longer than they haven’t!

The “Girl with a Pearl Earring” has been very popular with Wrapunzel ladies, for good reason! But the late 18th-early 19th centuries (think Jane Austen) saw a huge craze for turbans and other wraps. I suggest checking out paintings and fashion plates from 1790-1830 on Pinterest for more historical wrapping inspiration!

Do you have any hopes/dreams/wild predictions about where this trend is going to take us in the future?

I am really hopeful that head scarves will become even more widely worn by women. I already see wide, twisted headbands being popular, and turbans and scarves are widely worn in the vintage community. Scarves in general are so “in” right now, and I think women want more ways to wear them than just around their necks. I definitely think it’s a trend that is growing, which is very exciting!

Please tell us about how you choose your outfits in the morning!

There are a few ways I come up with outfits. I either plan them out completely the night before or I frantically run around in the morning trying things on! Both ways have been successful, although I think the outfits I plan beforehand are a bit better. I get really excited when I buy a new scarf, piece of jewelry, skirt, etc., and often build an outfit around that new piece.

And finally, what are you grateful for right now?

I have so much to be grateful for right now, from a job I enjoy to a loving family to a roof over our heads. But at this very moment I think I am most grateful for my husband, who always supports me and never gives up on me. 

It’s been a while since we made this last tutorial with Zahava!  We got lots of positive response about the format… how teaching each other on video was super helpful!  Recently she came up with another gorgeous wrap, and was surprised by the response on the fangroup.  “It’s so easy!” she said, “You already know how to do this!”  Yet the requests kept coming in, so we made a tutorial for you!  Baby Shalomy also wanted to be in it!

Here is the wrap with the very beautiful side knot:

And here is the video!

Enjoy!  Aren’t the things that “you already know” just incredible?
Love, Andrea

Today is my husband’s and my 4 year anniversary, so I decided to dress up a bit and try out the Triple C (Criss Cross Crown) wrap!  LOVE IT!

I’m wearing a light teal and gold creme shimmery… and unlikely combo but I like!  Here is my outfit 🙂

Wishing you all lots of love and happiness!
Andrea xo

We love Heather!  She came up with the moniker “The DB” for the double braid!  Up until now, we haven’t had any tutorials by her… just a wonderful lady wrap star post.  But… but this wrap she came up with is AMAZING!!  She calls it the “Triple C” aka Criss Cross Crown!  Now this is a way to make those shimmeries look even more amazing!

I’m always a fan of outfits that look great at a formal occasion whilst being practical, comfortable, and easy to move in!  This is what I wore on Shabbat – the same outfit on both days, but a different tichel in the evening and during the day!  I am seriously loving this Instant WOW! Satin Clip… I never thought to try clipping it at the back of my head, but it worked beautifully and also kept the tails out of my way (and away from chubby grabbing baby hands).

Here’s how I wore it on Friday night: (here is the tutorial for this wrap – just added the clip to cover the elastic!)

And here is during the day with the clip at the back!

And here’s the outfit that worked with both!  Please excuse the tired face… it was a blissfully long and meaningful day!

These outfits and wraps would also be just as at home at a wedding.  Yay!

Can’t wait for what this new week brings!
Love, Andrea