Sunday, October 16, 2011

The Edwardian Era: A Winter Hat


Large Edwardian hats were easily worn over large hairstyles. The tornure and other frames and pads were used to support hairstyles in such a way that it looked feminine and not stiff. Onto these hairstyles a hat of any size could be securely pinned. It could be the forward leaning saucer hats of my previous posts, or it could be heavy, wide and cozy hats, perfect for winter, like in this painting.

I love the website Fashion-era.com where so much research have gone into the many articles. I recommend that you visit the sections on hair and hats from 1900 to 1918 for some fascinating facts. I learnt, for instance, that there were workshops called "plummasiers" where feathers were dyed and made into ornaments. Hats could be very expensive and Edwardians were quite extravagant. When whole birds were made into hat ornaments it was decided after a while that the press should not report about them, to put a stop to the fashion.

I am still using mostly clip art images as my inspiration for paintings on this blog. This image was found in Dover books. The hat is made in warm velvet layers lined with black and is worn with a suit, a fashion that started about 1908.


10 comments:

  1. This is great Marie! The lovely back-ground beautifully compliments the colours of the hat and just love the little silhouette, gives a special feel to the painting!

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  2. Thank you, Maree! I first saw the little silhoettes in Dover Series mirror-image clip art. Now they have become a little trade mark in my lady paintings.

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  3. Great hat, Marie!! My daughter needed this hat when she had "big" hair in 1993 !!! My Mom was born in 1908 when this fashion started. You did a fantastic job with this painting !

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  4. That is so interesting, Hilda. Do you have photos? I know it was quite difficult because one had to visit one of the few professional photographers!

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  5. lovely image! I can't help but thing of edward gorey. He so loved this period!

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  6. Thank you, Celeste and I am going to google Edward Gory now!

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