There's Nothing Like A Hat

For centuries women have adorn themselves starting at the top of their head. Egyptian queens wore magnificent gold headpieces, and the French court saw the most elaborate display of brims, birds, and plumage in the mid to late 1700’s. It is estimated that in the late 1800’s five million birds were being killed annually for the millinery and fashion industry. The elimination of the bird population was so devastating it spawned the Audubon Society in 1905.

Millinery styles adapted to the times…wide brimmed western hats and bonnets were worn by the settlers to shield themselves from the scorching sun, the brims on ladies hats shrunk when they took to riding in automobiles, and the sheared beaver fedora was largely adopted by men in the early half of the 1900’s as an all-weather hat.

The great milliners say that millinery reached its pinnacle in the 1930’s through the 1940’s. This was when hats became an art form and no longer worn for practical purposes or as just a fashion accessory. They were sculpted, twisted, molded and formed. They became the focal point for which a whole ensemble was created. The styles were as versatile as the designers themselves. Milliners like Elsa Schiaparelli were credited with millinery innovation as she was largely inspired by surreal artist, Salvador Dali. Some of the other noteworthy milliners of the period were Hattie Carnegie and Lilly Dache.’ The partnership of John Piocelle and Frederic Hirst under the John-Frederics label created hats for many epic movies including Gone With the Wind and My Fair Lady.

Two significant events were responsible for the demise of the millinery industry…the bouffant hairdo, and the Catholic Church’s decision to let women attend church without wearing a hat. Hats in the 1960’s & 70’s were reduced to nothing more than a flowers propped atop a mound of hair with a small amount of veiling. At that point milliners pretty much put a lid on their hat boxes. But hats are back in vogue due to changes in time. Chemotherapy is largely responsible due to the hair loss. Greater awareness of the dangers of the sun’s ultraviolet rays has also increased hat sales. Although tea parties and Kentucky Derby parties have brought back the large picture hat, the number one selling hat of all time? ….the ball cap. Whatever your reason for wearing a hat, an Easter bonnet for Easter Sunday is another good reason. To quote George Sanders upon seeing Bette Davis in an elaborate chapeau in the movie All About Eve, “There’s nothing like a hat.”

To see a wide variety of beautiful vintage hats, please visit the Spring Antique Mall located on the southwest corner of I-45 North and FM 2920 (Exit 70A). Hours are Mon-Fri 10-5; Sat 10-6 & Sun 1-6. Visit the Spring Antique Mall’s Facebook page and send a picture of your favorite hat. Also visit their website at www.springantiquemall.com


Janet Werner is a featured columnist for Antique & Collectors Guide of Texas, a monthly statewide publication on antiques and collectibles.