About that wig!

[Sarushka]

Do we know of any first-hand comments from Tatiana regarding the wig she wore throughout 1913? I just wondered what she thought of it -- since she seemed fairly comfortable walking around the palace grounds bald-headed in 1917.

Also, was it common knowledge at the time (1913) that she'd had her hair shaved, or was the fact kept from the general population?

[isabel]

Did she really wear a wig?

[clockworkgirl21]

Yes. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe she drank something at a party that made her sick, and she had to have her head shaved. Or is that something different? Anyway, I don't know what Tatiana thought of her wig. It would be interesting to know.

[Sarushka]

She caught typhoid by drinking an iced beverage at a function during the tercentary celebrations, in Moscow, I think. She had her head shaved (or at least cut real, real short) as a result of the illness. So, in a lot of the 1913 photos -- the formals especially -- she's wearing a wig. That's also why she has bobbed hair in 1914.

[Lanie]

From letters I have read from Tatiana in 1917 and 1918, she complains about how hot and annoying it was to wear a wig so I suppose she didn't mind her hair short!

From 27 February 1918: "Our hair has grown, it is as long as in that picture after I had typhus, with the ribbon in it, do you remember?  It grows much quicker now because I think first we had our heads shaved twice and secondly we did not wear wigs so it was much more comfortable.  The first time I was ashamed of myself as I was all alone, but now we are all four in the same state!"

[Sarushka]

One of us has made a goof, and it was probably me!

Did she have typhus or typhoid? I alwys get those typh- diseases mixed up. But I'm at work, so I can't double-check!
(Don't tell the boss  )

[Sarushka]

Also, Lanie, what's your source for that letter? I want to read more!

[Lanie]

I got them from the Hoover Institution at Stanford University (I've read them before; thanks to Penny W. for getting me these copies!).  I'll be more than happy to PM you the entire letter if you want.  It's been translated into English as "typhus" so...

[Holly]

Did Anastasia ever write about the wigs Lanie?

[Lanie]

No, I only have letters from Olga and Tatiana. There are none from Maria and Anastasia.

[Holly]

Oh, okay. Thanks Lanie! I wonder what Olga thought of it?

[matushka]

I always read typhoide, the same as her father in 1902. Lanie, I would be so happy to read the entire letter too, may I ask you to send me it also? Is that possible?. I do not know it. Whom did she write?

[matushka]

From this letter, it does not seem she do not mind of her hair shot. I would say that she did not like wearing a wig, which is something different. On the contrary, she spoke about how she was ashamed...

[Robby]

Lanie do you want to post the letter to me?

Thanks, Robby.

[Romanov_fan]

The wig did not look good on Tatiana, but short hair did. She looked fantastic with bobbed hair such as she had in 1914. If only she had kept her hair this way and not allowed it grow long again. At the time of her death her hair was probably fairly short, but not as short as the 1914 pictures because it had been over a year since her head was shaved. IN 1918, long hair was still the vogue, but if Tatiana had lived into the 1920s, her hair would probably have been short and she would have looked very nice.