what kind of hats did people wore in 1830s..were they big,wide ?
Posted on January 31st, 2010 by admin
why did they wore such a big hats …is there a difference between bonnets and hats,…why did they use ribbon to tie big bonnets…plzz help me..
People wore hats in those days for other reason than fashion – although that was the reason the upper classes wore hats.
For centuries the people in Northern Europe have worn head coverings to keep their head dry when the weather was wet and for shade when the weather was warm. It left their hands free to work, and kept in body heat when the weather was cold.
In the 1830’s men wore hats rather than use an arm to carry an umbrella. Cowboy hats were very wide brimmed to offer the wearer this protection.
For fashion’s sake upper class women wanted pale white skin, so skin protection was considered extremely important. So various type of hats outdoor for women sprang into existence. Lower class women wore hats more for protection from the rain and to keep their hands free for other chores.
Bonnets were worn only by women and had high "pokes" (the part that actually covered the top of the head). The sunbonnets worn by American Women when crossing the prairies, had fabric "pokes" which could be handmade at home.
As for ribbons, satin ribbons for tying bonnets are only for fashion, (they don’t stay tied, I know, I’ve tried) grosgrain ribbon stays tied better. Cotton ties work even better.
This website has pictures of upper class English hats of the 1830s: http://www.fashion-era.com/romantic_era.htm#Romantic%20Era%201825-1835
This second webpage has pictures of sunbonnets to show the difference: http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images;_ylt=A9G_bDo9uFJLamsAzVGJzbkF?p=pioneer+sunbonnets&fr=yfp-t-701&ei=utf-8&x=wrt&y=Search
January 31st, 2010 at 2:33 pm
Women wore fairly simple cotton hats indoors and large bonnets that framed their faces over the bonnets when they ventured outdoors. The ribbons were decorative, as well as functional, since a gust of wind would easily send sailing a wide-brimmed bonnet if it weren’t tied to the head. Women’s hats were largely designed for fashion, though the brims also offered sun protection. They were large for the same reason dresses were pinched at the waist to emphasize the breasts and hips: fashion. That was simply the look the women wanted at the time.
Just about all fashions seem silly in hindsight. But in the 1830s, homes didn’t have showers so bathing was done less frequently. It’s doubtful anyone washed her hair every day, so the caps worn indoors preserved the elaborate hairstyles (center parts and curls in the 1830s) longer. But the ostentatious outdoor hats were just the product of that era’s fashion sense.
References :
January 31st, 2010 at 2:46 pm
People wore hats in those days for other reason than fashion – although that was the reason the upper classes wore hats.
For centuries the people in Northern Europe have worn head coverings to keep their head dry when the weather was wet and for shade when the weather was warm. It left their hands free to work, and kept in body heat when the weather was cold.
In the 1830’s men wore hats rather than use an arm to carry an umbrella. Cowboy hats were very wide brimmed to offer the wearer this protection.
For fashion’s sake upper class women wanted pale white skin, so skin protection was considered extremely important. So various type of hats outdoor for women sprang into existence. Lower class women wore hats more for protection from the rain and to keep their hands free for other chores.
Bonnets were worn only by women and had high "pokes" (the part that actually covered the top of the head). The sunbonnets worn by American Women when crossing the prairies, had fabric "pokes" which could be handmade at home.
As for ribbons, satin ribbons for tying bonnets are only for fashion, (they don’t stay tied, I know, I’ve tried) grosgrain ribbon stays tied better. Cotton ties work even better.
This website has pictures of upper class English hats of the 1830s: http://www.fashion-era.com/romantic_era.htm#Romantic%20Era%201825-1835
This second webpage has pictures of sunbonnets to show the difference: http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images;_ylt=A9G_bDo9uFJLamsAzVGJzbkF?p=pioneer+sunbonnets&fr=yfp-t-701&ei=utf-8&x=wrt&y=Search
References :
BA in History – years of living History experience