This
is the costume piece that every Flying Nun fan has longed for: Sister Bertrille's super-starchy, winged wonder, the famous San Tanco
cornet. This headgear was worn by all the sisters of the convent, but for some reverent
wonder it only bestowed the
petite 97lb novice, played by Sally Field, with the ability to fly.
The original hats used by
television studio Screen Gems are impossible to locate. To date, I have only ever heard of one authentic
cornet of
inferior display quality passing into collector's hands. That hat was
made with wilted wings for a wet-cat look of Sister Bertrille emerging
from the chilly Caribbean waters.
It is believed that legendary
costume designer Bob Mackie was responsible for the intricate architecture of
the cornet. Structured like a cross between a paper airplane and an
origami seagull, its true inner boning is forever a mystery,
but the exterior fabric was a soft, cream color, felted wool. The whole
megillah was them hand-sewn to a custom sculpted skullcap with enough
empty space to accommodate assorted lengths of hair rolled up neatly
into tight buns, but subtle enough to avoid a distorted head look.
Painstakingly researched from frozen screen
shots and what few photos
are available to fans, I can now recreate the headpiece as accurate and
authentic as any one that came out of the Screen Gems costume shop. In truth the appropriate crème colored wool was one of the
hardest items to find!
However, due to the high cost of materials and labor involved with
the authentic version, I have also created a more affordable costume version.
This less expensive costume quality piece is available for purchase at
a much lower cost than the deluxe ultra-accurate style. It utilizes the
exact same pattern but is cost-effective and less labor intensive.
It's the closest thing you'll ever find to the "real" thing.
The one exception made to aesthetic authenticity
here is the use of crème colored felt, instead of wool, for the
covering. One size fits most, and it can be worn for fun on windy days -
a
sure winner for any local costume contest - or simply used as the piece
de resistance for your private Flying Nun collection. I can even
replicate Sister Bertrille's complete habit.
