The Balzo was a headdress worn by noblewomen of Italy in the 1530s. It was donut-shaped but appeared turban-like from the front, though it was generally worn further back from the forehead exposing the hair, unlike a period

turban A turban (from Persian language, Persian دولبند‌, ''dolband''; via Middle French ''turbant'') is a type of headwear based on cloth winding. Featuring many variations, it is worn as customary headwear by people of various cultures. Commun ...

. It is assumed as a fashion invention by

Isabella d'Este Isabella d'Este (19 May 1474 – 13 February 1539) was the Marchioness of Mantua and one of the leading women of the Italian Renaissance as a major cultural and political figure. She was a patron of the arts as well as a leader of fashion ...

, first documented in letters in 1509 and 1512 and well copied in later years. The headdress was a throwback to a larger rounded headdress from the 15th century in Italy that covered the hair of the wearer.Balzo
on clothing website Then the hairline was often plucked. Though mostly known as a woman's headdress, there is evidence that men also wore a form of the balzo. File:Franco Flemish c. 1410 - Profile Portrait of a Lady - NGA 1937.1.23.jpg, '' Profile Portrait of a Lady'', c.1410 portrait of a woman wearing an "early balzo" with a plucked forehead File:Francesco Francia attributed - likely Isabella d'Este.jpg,

Francesco Francia __NOTOC__ Francesco Francia, whose real name was Francesco Raibolini (1447 – 5 January 1517) was an Italian painter, goldsmith, and medallist from Bologna, who was also director of the city mint.Levinson:492 He may have trained with Marco Zop ...

attributed - likely Isabella d'Este in 1511 File:Callisto Piazza Da Lodi - The Concert - WGA17409.jpg, Two women and a man wearing a balzo, showing the differences in style

References

{{Clothing History of clothing (Western fashion) Headgear Hats