I absolutely love millinery and everthing hats, so I thought I would do some research on the internet and find out a
little bit more about the History of Millinery.........
I've always been drawn to vintage fashion and loved rumaging in second hand shops in my youth (when it wasn't fashionable to do so!!) And in those days I got some amazing vintage pieces...... How I wish I'd kept them...
So heres a brief look at millinery in different eras!!
Headwear was worn as early as the Middle Ages (5th to 15th Century) when the Church decided that Ladies should cover their hair and therefore wear a head covering. But it was during the 18th Century that Millinery was established outside of the home and as a profession.
The word Milliner itself comes from the word Milan, the Italian city was where the worlds textile and fashion trade came from. A milliner traditionally is the name given to someone who makes and trims hats for ladies, whereas someone who makes hats for men is known as a hatter.
18th Century
In the 1770's when wigs and huge hairstyles were in fashion, the Calash Bonnet was very popular, this was a bonnet made from silk with wood or whalebone to ad height and structure. Its purpose was to protect the Hairstyle from the elements. Turbans were also popular in the 1790's in England and remained popular until the 1920's.
19th Century 1800-1860
Straw bonnets were very fashionable ind 1810, a cheap alternative that was used was
bonnet board, this was made from cardboard that was pressed in a roller machine. In
1820 milliners experimented with buckram covered in silk with towers of feather flumes and
silk bows. In the 1830's hats grew in size until 1840 when the brim size reduced in size
dramitically.
20th Century 1860-1900
20th Century 1900-1920
20t h Century 1920-1965
The Cloche was the hat worn in the 1920's and by the 1930's the brim became larger and the crown
20th Century 1940-1965
During the war there were many different hat styles and surprisingly hat materials were the only
materials not rationed.
Post war, many ladies chose not to wear hats and so the millinery industry had to be inventive, and
many different hat styles were created and re-introduced; cartwheel hats, turbans and pillboxes to name
a few.
20th Century 1965-2000
I have thoroughly enjoyed doing a little research into Millinery and I hope you have enjoyed this blog
too!!
If you would like any help choosing your next Headpiece for your Ocassion, then drop me a message!!
My Millinery Journey
