Forehead cloth

Like a man's nightcap, a woman's coif and forehead cloth were informal headwear. The forehead cloth was worn under the coif (a small close-fitting cap), and could be decorated to complement it.

In Western Europe it was customary for both men and women to cover their heads outdoors until the 1960s. A hat was an essential part of respectable dress and, from a health perspective, head coverings were considered necessary to protect against chills and disease.