Figure 1.-- Here we see three English chikden about 2-8 years old, all with their headwear. The baby wears a bonnet. The girl has a fancy hat. The boys wears a broad-brimmed sailor hat. The portrait is undated, but we would guess was taken in the 1890s because of the style of the mount, but the 1880s is possible. The studio was Broadhead in Leicester.

We know much more about the 19th century than the 18th century, because of phpyography that appeared at mid-century. Headwearvwas still verycommon for both chidren and adults throiughout the century. We do not yet know much about the early 19th century, espcially the 1800s. We see Oliver Twist caps, a peaked military style after the Napoleonic Wars. We have a more substantial chronological record beginning with the development of photography (mid-19th century). And we see many new headwear styles. We see Scottish styles becoming popular, along with kilts and kilt suits. The peaked school cap also appeared. As sailor suits became popular so did sailor headwear, both caps and hats. The caps followed Royal Navy styles. The hats included both narrow and wide brims. White there were destinctive styles for boys. Girls tended to wear the same styles as their mothers. These hats could be quite elaborate. Younger girls might wear bonnets. We see both boys and girls wearing boaters. Tams becane poplar for girls. Headwear was very common in the 19th and early-20th century. Well dressed people wore headwear and this included all social classses. We see a lot of the same styles in America during the 19th century as most styles were set in Europe, but more differences in the 20th century as the Aamerican econmy began to generate styles of its own.

The 1800s

We do not yet know much about the early 19th century, espcially the 1800s.

The 1820s

We see Oliver Twist caps, a peaked military style after the Napoleonic Wars.

The 1830s

The first sucessful photographic process was the French Daguerreotype (1839). Almost no Dags actually taken in 1839.

The 1840s

We have a more substantial chronological record beginning with the development of photography (mid-19th century). Dag studio soon appeared in France, Briain and America. Whie this resulted a huge increase in thenumber of images, the actual number was relatively limited, especially in Europe. And brecaue of the poses set by the studios, we rarely see headwear.

The 1860s

While we begin to see photographs (1840s), the number was limited. This chganged in the 1860s with the CDV. Suddenly we see really large numbers of photographs. And for the firstime we see numeros images of children's headwear. We see many new headwear styles. We see Scottish styles becoming popular, along with kilts and kilt suits.

The 1880s

The peaked school cap appeared more commonlyin the 1880s. As sailor suits became popular so did sailor headwear, both caps and hats. The caps followed Royal Navy styles. The hats included both narrow- and wide-brim styles. White there were destinctive styles for boys. Girls tended to wear the same styles as their mothers.

The 1890s

We see wide range of headwear in the 1890s. Some styles were gender exclsive. Others could be worn by both boys and girls, esecially younger boys, but girls of a wider age range. Age was also a factor. The portrait here shows a range of styles (figure 1). Girls hats could be quite elaborately decorative. Younger girls might wear bonnets. Both girls and youngr boys might wear wide-brimmed hats. These hats for boys werRe pLain. GIrls might also wear plain-wide bmmed hats, butmany were highly decorated. We see both boys and girls wearing boaters. Tams becane poplar for girls. Headwear was very common in the 19th and early-20th century. Well dressed people wore headwear and this included all social classses. We see a lot of the same styles in America during the 19th century as most styles were set in Europe, but more differences in the 20th century as the Aamerican econmy began to generate styles of its own.

Created: 7:16 AM 10/19/2017
Last updated: 12:42 AM 9/6/2025