What’s on Top?
What’s on Top?
Regency Era Bonnets and Hats
I’ve always loved the hats and bonnets of the Regency Era.
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Really, they do.
Readers of Regency and anyone who’s watched any of Jane Austen’s works that have been made into movies knows just how lovely those hats and bonnets were.
First, the difference between a hat and bonnet. Bonnets tie on and hats don’t. Today, I’m focusing on the types bonnets that would have been worn away from the home, not the simple lace caps that were common indoors, mostly by married women or spinsters.
| Millinery Shop |
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Commonly adorned with silk flowers, feathers, and ribbons, bonnets ranged from simple straw caps to elegantly adorned bonnets.
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| Hat Pins |
Changing the fripperies on a bonnet to update the style or coordinate the piece with a gown or spencer was common, too.
Hat making is especially dear to my heart. My great-grandmother was a milliner. I remember seeing all sorts of beautiful hat pins and fascinating treasures for making hats in her sewing room. I have some of her hat pins dating back to the early 1900s.
Resources:
http://www.songsmyth.com/hatsandbonnets.html
http://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/2008/02/22/bonnets-caps-and-hats-a-regency-fashion-accessory-no-lady-can-do-without/
http://hibiscus-sinensis.com/regency/shops.htm
http://elegance-of-fashion.blogspot.com/2011/02/assorted-lace-caps.html
My Mom being the GRIT(Girl raised in the South+Ministers Daughter) that she is, has always worn Hats! Being a 3 time Breast Cancer Survivor she is very sensitive to the Sun and wears a Hat every time she leaves the House, so she must have about 50-60 different hats. Her favorite is her Fathers old Church Hat- a Fedora. We’re giving her a 80th Birthday Party on May 30(her Birthday is the 21st) and the Invitation asks everyone to wear their “Best Hat” in her Honor. She’s sharing her Celebration with her Brother(73/Jun 1), her oldest Grandson(34/May 23) and her Great
Granddaughter( 3/May 6) ! We’re all ready to PARTY !
That sounds like so much fun! I love hats and wish I could wear them.
Another difference between bonnets and hats — bonnets frame the sides of the face, and hats don’t. You can make a hat sit properly on your head if you first create braids over the top of your head (Dutch or coronet braids can usually be done even on shorter hair). Use hatpins to secure the hat to the braids.
Elinor, I used to pull my hair up into a bun or a clip to get the hat to stay in place. I have some of my great-grandmother’s hat pins. Those things look lethal.
I’ve used hatpins. They could be lethal, if you were to stab someone in the throat (I’m sure there’s a murder mystery or three that use a hatpin as a murder weapon). My hatpins aren’t terribly sharp, but I am careful when I put them in so I don’t stab my scalp.
They would make a good self-protection weapon.