The Store P357 Straw Headband: A Vintage Turban for Summer Style
Run your fingers along the stiff, honey-coloured weave of a vintage straw headband and you might wonder if it belongs in a museum or on your head. It belongs on your head. The piece catalogued as store p357 strawheadband — a turban-style straw headband — sits at a curious intersection of millinery craft, practical summer dressing, and the quiet rebellion of women who refused to let hats ruin their hair. Understanding what makes this particular object special means looking at the straw itself, the way it was shaped, and the social moment that made it a wardrobe staple rather than a novelty.
What Exactly Is the Store P357 Straw Headband?
The store p357 strawheadband turbanstrawheadband is not a single manufacturer's model but a type designation used by vintage archivists and collectors to identify a specific construction method. The "p357" code refers to a pattern or stock-keeping unit from a mid-century British accessories house — likely one of the smaller London-based workshops that supplied department stores like Liberty or Fenwick. The headband is built as a continuous band of woven straw, approximately four to five centimetres wide, that wraps around the crown of the head and ties or fastens at the nape. Unlike a typical Alice band, it covers more of the scalp and sits lower on the forehead, mimicking the silhouette of a turban without the bulk of fabric.
The straw is usually natural wheat or rye, sometimes dyed in muted tones of ecru, tobacco, charcoal, or blush pink.
Materials and Construction Techniques
Authentic examples of the store p357 strawheadband are made from hand-braided straw plait — a technique that was already centuries old when these pieces were produced in the 1950s and early 1960s. The plait is coiled and stitched into a continuous loop using a fine, almost invisible thread. The best pieces use a single continuous braid with no visible join, which requires considerable skill. The inner edge is often lined with a strip of grosgrain ribbon or a thin velvet pad to prevent slipping and to protect the hair from the rough edges of the straw. Some versions include a small wire insert inside the braid, allowing the wearer to bend the headband into a slight wave or keep it perfectly straight. The fastening at the back is usually a pair of narrow fabric ties or a single elastic loop with a button — never a metal clip, which would crush the straw.
Why the Turban Straw Headband Mattered in British Fasion
The 1950s were a golden age for hair accessories in Britain, partly because of the popularity of elaborate hairstyles that took hours to set and could not be crushed under a hat. A straw headband offered the polish of a hat — the frame it gave the face, the suggestion of formality — without the pression on the hair. It also solved a practical problem: British summers are unpredictable, and a straw headband keeps hair off the face on a breezy seaside promenade while still allowing the scalp to breathe. The turban shape, in particular, was a nod to the glamour of 1940s film stars who wore wrapped turbans to protect their hairstyles during air raids, but in straw it felt lighter and more playful. These headbands were sold in department stores, at market stalls in seaside towns, and through mail-order catalogues aimed at young women who wanted to look sophisicated on a budget.
Identifying Authentic Store P357 Pieces
If you are hunting for a genuine store p357 strawheadband, there are a few markers that separate the real thing from later reproductions. First, the colour: natural straw from the 1950s has a warm, uneven tone — slightly darker at the edges where the plait was exposed to light. Modern straw is often bleached uniformly or dyed with synthetic colours that look flat. Second, the weight: an original headband feels substantial but not heavy, because the straw is densely packed. A cheap modern version will feel hollow or flimsy. Third, the stitching: look at the join where the two ends meet. On an authentic piece, the thread is waxed cotton or silk, and the stitches are tiny and evenly spaced. Fourth, the lining: if there is a maker's label, it will be a small woven ribbon stitched to the inside — something like "Made in England" or a department store name. No label does not mean it is a fake; many small workshops did not label their work. But a plastic or paper label is a red flag.
How to Wear a Straw Turban Headband Today
A vintage straw headband of this type is surp rising ly versatile. The key is to treat it as a structural accessory rather than a decorative afterthought. Because it sits low on the forehead and wraps around the crown, it works best with hair that is either completely loose and flowing or pulled back into a low chignon or ponytail. The headband itself becomes the main event, so keep the rest of the outfit simple: a white linen dress, a plain cashmere sweater, or a tailored blazer. For a more casual look, pair it with high-waisted trousers and a Breton stripe top. The natural straw colour com plemes warm skin tones and looks especially good with gold jewellery — small hoop earrings or a thin chain necklace. Avoid com peting with the headband; no large earrings or busy prints.
Com bining with Other Vintage Accessories
The straw headband pairs beautifully with other mid-century accessories, but the trick is balance. Because the headband already frames the face, you can skip a necklace and instead focus on earrings that echo the headband's texture — tagua nut discs, shell beads, or small brass studs. If you have a collection of vintage brooches, pin one to the lapel of a jacket rather than to the headband itself; the straw is too delicate to sup port the weight of a heavy brooch. For those who love the full 1950s silhouette, consider adding a pair of vintage sunglasses with cat-eye frames. The headband also works well with a simple silk scarf tied at the neck — a combination that feels both polished and effortless.
Car ing for Your Straw Headband
Straw is a natural material and requires gentle handling. The most common problem with vintage straw headbands is brittleness — the fibres dry out over decades and can crack if bent too shar ply. Store your store p357 headband flat in a drawer or on a padded hanger, never crushed under other items. If the straw has lost some of its flexibility, you can lightly steam it: hold the headband over a kettle spout (not in the steam, just above it) for a few seconds, then gently res hape it with your hands and let it cool. Do not soak it in water, and never use a hair dryer on it. For cleaning, use a soft, dry paintbrush or a make-up brush to dust between the braids. If there is a stain, dab it very lightly with a cloth barely dampened with water and a drop of mild soap, then blot immed iately with a dry cloth. Allow the headband to air-dry com pletely before wearing or storing. Moth damage is rare with straw, but if you notice tiny holes, isolate the piece immed iately and check your other accessories.
Storage and Archival Best Practices
For serious collectors, the way you store a straw headband affects its longevity. Keep it away from direct sunlight, which fades the natural colour unevenly, and away from radiators or fireplaces, which dry out the fibres. Acid-free tissue paper can be tucked inside the headband to help it keep its shape. Do not store it in a plastic bag; the trapped moisture can encourage mould. Instead, wrap it in a cotton muslin bag or a clean, soft tea towel. If you have multiple headbands, store them se parately so the braids do not snag on each other. A shallow hatbox lined with acid-free paper is ideal. For those who also collect other vintage millinery, the same principles apply to straw hats and fabric turbans — you may find useful parallels in the way we care for archival pieces like the The C34 Code: Storing Vintage Berets Like a Col lector, which offers guidance on maintaining shape and preventing fibre fatigue in delicate headwear.
Where to Look for Authentic Store P357 Headbands
Because the p357 designation is a cataloguing code rather than a brand name, you will not find it in modern retail. The best hunting grounds are British vintage fairs, estate sales in the Home Counties, and online marketplaces where sellers list items as "1950s straw turban headband" or "vintage woven headwrap." Look for listings that mention the grosgrain lining, the hand-stitched plait, and the absence of metal parts. Prices vary widely: a common piece in fair condition might cost £15–£30, while a rare colour (especially blush pink or charcoal) with the original label can reach £60–£80. Do not pay a premium for a headband that is already cracked or has a broken fastening, unless you are skilled at straw repair. Most vintage dealers are happy to send additional photographs of the stitching and the inside lining — ask for these before buying.
A Note on Sizing and Fit
Vintage headbands were not made in sizes the way modern hats are. Most are one-szize-fits-all, with the ties or elastic at the back pro viding adjustability. If you have a smaller head cir cumference, you can take a small tuck in the straw at the back — but do this only if the headband is still flexible. For larger heads, look for pieces with longer fabric ties that can be tied in a bow rather than a knot. The headband should feel snug but not tight; if it leaves a red mark on your forehead after a few minutes, it is too small. Remember that straw does not stretch, so do not force it. If you find a piece that is slightly too large, you can sew a small piece of velvet ribbon to the inside of the band to add friction and reduce slipping.
The Quiet Appeal of a Straw Headband
What makes the store p357 strawheadband worth seeking out is not its rarity — there are many still in circulation — but the way it captures a particular moment in British fashion when women wanted to look put-together without the formality of a hat. It asks very little of you: no com plicated styling, no special occasion, no fear of rain ruining it (though a sudden down pour is not ideal). It simply sits on your head and lets the straw do the work. For collectors who appreciate mid-century craftsmanship, it is a tangible link to the workshop culture of post-war Britain, where small teams of makers produced beautiful, functional objects meant for daily wear. If you come across one at a fair or in a charity shop, pick it up. Examine the weave. Feel the weight. If it is still supple, take it home — then store it flat in a drawer, away from sunlight, and you will have a piece of British summer ready to wear whenever you need it.