Interesting Hat Images

From American Belles by Harrison Fisher (1911)

In honor of National Hat day, here are some interesting images of hats!

The above picture is by Harrison Fisher, whose beautiful images of pretty ladies and romantic couples appeared in many books and magazines and on numerous postcards in the early 20th century. He was one of the best known artists in the Golden Age of Illustration, and his work remains popular today. His illustrations both reflected and influenced fashion trends of the times.

National Straw Hat Wearers Association -Photo by Harris and Ewing (1928) (Courtesy of Library of Congress)

Straw hats like the ones above were incredibly popular for men early in the 20th century. In the past, people were more confined by fashion rules than they are today, and wore only certain clothes at certain times of the year, regardless of the weather. This was reflected in practices such as not wearing white after labor day, and people dressing children in long underwear on unseasonably warm days in December. This promotional photo by Harris & Ewing for the National Straw Hat Wearers Association, published on May 9, 1928 encouraged men to wear straw hats on warm days,  whatever the month. The caption reads: "Hats off! Attention men! The national straw hat wearer's association appears on the scene in Washington, D.C. The rules say: wear your straw hat when it is hot. Don't bother about the set dates. Remember, a straw hat on the head is cooler than a straw in the store." Here we have the national officers, reading left to right: Frank S. Hoght, first Vice President and Managing Director of the Willard Hotel; Edwin Callow, President and Leroy Goff, second Vice President. Kemper F. Cowing is National Secretary."

Puck Magazine Cover Illustration by William Ely Hill (1912)

The beautiful young woman in this illustration wears an enormous hat. In 1912, stylish hats were very large, although this one might be a little exaggerated. I'm not exactly sure what's going on in this picture. Puck was a popular humor magazine. Often the subtleties of humor become lost to history, as what people think is funny has changed over time, and attitudes toward women and people of different races and cultures have (hopefully) evolved. The caption reads: "This is the man who tells his wife that a woman's place is in the home." The man is clearly much older than the woman, and they are at a bar or restaurant together. I'm thinking the man wants his wife to stay home so he can go out with a woman who appears to have loose morals, since she is seen drinking and smoking, which were not "ladylike" activities in those days. This appears to make light of a man cheating on his wife. But it could also be saying that liberated women are more fun to be around, and are happier than the ones who stay at home. This pre-flapper-era woman doesn't seem to be ashamed of herself and wears a confident smile, as well as looking very classy and fashionable. The man just looks sleazy.

Three Hatted Young Women At A Restaurant by Charles Dana Gibson (1898)

This illustration is by the famous Charles Dana Gibson, who originated the "Gibson Girl", an idealized, beautiful woman at the turn of the 20th century. This image was published in Scribner's Magazine in September 1898.

Jack and Jill by Ethel Franklin Betts (1909)

This image of children wearing beautiful hats is by Ethel Franklin Betts, and appeared in The Complete Mother Goose in 1909. Their clothing reflects the whimsical fantasy of fairy tales and nursery rhymes, rather than the fashion of a particular era.

Photo by Byron, N.Y. (1907) (Courtesy of Library of Congress)

This somewhat mysterious photo was taken in 1907 at the Bide-A-Wee Home for Animals, New York, N.Y.. A man is putting a sun hat on a horse and a woman (wearing an ornate flowered hat) is  holding another hat and reins of another horse.

Summer Gowns by David Soeurs from Gazette du Bon Ton (1921)

 
This fashion illustration is from the influential French Magazine Gazette du Bon Ton, showing beautiful summer gowns and hats from 1921.

Farmer Buying A New Hat by Arthur Rothstein (1938) (Courtesy of Library of Congress)

This 1938 photo from the Farm Security Administration shows a farmer buying a new hat in the store at Blankenship, Indiana. He is wearing overalls. Behind him what appears to be an old fashioned stove and store shelves are visible. Because the photo is grainy, it is not possible to clearly make out what is on the shelves, but there appear to be bottles and other small items on the shelf behind the stove and feed bags behind the farmer. What look like paper fans are hanging from the ceiling.

French Ladies' Hats (1930s)

In contrast to the farmer's practical and unadorned hat are these ladies' hats from the same decade. This French fashion plate from the 1930s shows the front and back of five ornate and beautiful hats, which are trimmed with bows and feathers.