Hohenzollern Jewels

[Robert_Hall]

Good answer, HK ! But I still think it might have taken a bit more than that.  As this was a portait picture,  perhaps she simply did not move around very much?

[Eric_Lowe]

It does took a lot of effort to look good in those days.

[CountessKate]

As long as her hair was securely pulled around its foundation pads, a tiara was like a hat, it could be anchored quite solidly with long pins as these could be driven deep into the pads.   An extremely upright posture and slow stately movement was not only regal, it was essential to ensure nothing came adrift up the top!  Women had to wear these things to balls and dance in them (and the corsets and high heels and gowns with long trains) and frankly, I don't know why Ginger Rogers thought she was anything special keeping up with Fred Astaire backwards and in heels - she should have tried it in one of those outfits.

[HerrKaiser]

Good answer, HK ! But I still think it might have taken a bit more than that.  As this was a portait picture,  perhaps she simply did not move around very much?

Actually you are on the mark. They really did not move too much and they were taught through years of training how to walk and keep their heads, necks, and shoulders in place to project a stately air and "highness" appearance. So, balancing tiaras was a built-in capability.

Plus, while Eric may be correct about the weight of some jewels, most tiaras were surprisingly light. Even the imperial state crown, which looks like it must weigh a ton, is only about 2 pounds. I think Aretha's hat weighed more!

[Eric_Lowe]

I think Cecilie was lucky to escape the crinolines and corsets that her mother had to wear. Her era was much less harh than a previous generation. I wonder if the ruby demi-parure (you can see the red stones from a painting) was still in the family ?

[Robert_Hall]

2 pounds on top of your head can be a weight to deal with ! I can gaurantee that!  Yes, posture and training are important, but handling that load  can be a bother. Especially in heels.  But I do not think they wore high heels in those days. They wore lower  "pumps" that had flat  heel & toe support.
 And, HK, I liked Aretha's hat. It was fun and classy.  {I admit it looked like she was on her way to church, though}.

[Eric_Lowe]

Yes...In a few years, the big tiaras would be out of vogue. Small one would be in. I think Cecilie had a few lighter tiaras too...

[grandduchessella]

She had the lovely Meander one.

[Alexander1917]

It does, Eric. But to me it looks like an exagerrated Gibson rather than Geisha.  And, I do not think they had foam plastic in those days.  A coill of fabric perhaps or a rat. In any case, something had to hold it in place. Pity the poor maid who had that job!

may this will help
http://www.fashion-era.com/hats-hair/hats_hair_6_hairstyles_fashion_history_1900_1920.htm

pats - if foam plastic or not... only translation for Schaumstoff, which is still used to-day - hairparts - now extensions - are used for those hiarstyle, and rememeber the high things of Marie Antoinette

[Eric_Lowe]

Indeed. I like the meander one too...I think that one is still with the family.

[Alexander1917]

Isn't it the "wedding" tiara?

[Eric_Lowe]

Yes...I don't know if Cecilie herself wore it on her wedding since no wedding photos survive of that day.

[grandduchessella]

Wilhelm (Jr) presented Cecile with the tiara on the morning of her wedding day so it's doubtful she wore it that day. Her DIL Kyra and Kyra's daughters Marie-Cecile & Xenia wore it on their wedding days. It's not the Hohenzollern 'brautkrone' though worn by previous brides like Dona, Irene and Victoria Louise. Cecile's daughter Cecile wore her mother's equally lovely Faberge tiara on her wedding day. This tiara was a wedding gift from Cecile's Romanov relatives.

[ashdean]

I love the CrownPrincess Ruby necklace...

Wasnt that a sapphire necklace?

[grandduchessella]

She did have a similar sapphire necklace (part of a sapphire parure that belonged to the Prussian royals) but she's wearing part of the ruby parure that had belonged to Queen Elisabeth of Prussia in this instance.