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Bonnet is a term for headwear in use since the middle ages. It has been used for a wide range of headwear for both men and women. In Scotland the medieval usage persisted and contunued to be used. In England the more modern usage was for women's headwear. It also referred to 'baby bonnets'. Baby was added because because bonnet was a generic term used for womens's hats. A standard dictionary definition is, "a cloth or straw hat tied under the chin and worn by women and children." This is now rather dated as neither children or women commonly wear such hats. Bonnets were worn by babies and some todlers. We initially though this was headwear for babies. Thus the title here--baby bonnets. In England at least we see girls wearing these bonnets not only in the toddler years, but to some extent even younger primarily girls as well. As far as we can tell, this was primrily a phemonenon in England. We do not see nything like it in America. Bonnets wre worn by Americans, but mosdly babbies and we see far fewer. We can see this clearly in the photograohic record. We are not yet sure about the 19th century, but it ceratainly wa the case at the turn if the 20th century, primarily the Edwardian era. We note it in the 1900s. Mny of our images are undated. It certainly was the case in the 1900s. We sare not sure about the 1910s. We suspect this was mostly in the early 10s and began to decline in the later 10s during World War I. We see few bonnet images in the 1920s. Many bonnets were simple and small, but some were elaborate and and huge. We see frilly ones for special occasions. Here social class was a factor. The well to do were fond of huge baby bonnets. Baby bonnets were for both boys and girls, although we think that the older toddlers wearing them were mostly girls. They covered the head and depending on the size provided some shade for sun protection. They were generally done in white. Good examples are the elaborate bonnets worn by two Worcester toddlers at the turn-of-the 20th century.
Bonnet is a term for headwear in use since the middle ages. It has been used for a wide range of headwear for both men and women. In Scotland the medieval usage persisted and contunued to be used. In England the more modern usage was for women's headwear. It also referred to 'baby bonnets'. Baby was added because because bonnet was a generic term used for womens's hats. A standard dictionary definition is, 'a cloth or straw hat tied under the chin and worn by women and children.' This is now rather dated as neither children or women commonly wear such hats. Bonnets were worn by babies and some todlers. We initially though this was headwear for babies. Thus the title here--baby bonnets.
In England at least we see girls wearing these bonnets not only in the toddler years, but to some extent even younger primarily girls as well.
As far as we can tell, this was primrily a phemonenon in England. We can see this clearly in the photograohic record.We do not see anything like it in America. Bonnets wre worn by Americans, but mostly babbies and we see far fewer. Th bonets wer see in Ametica were primzatily pioneer women. We can see this clearly in the photograohic record.
We believe that bonnets were worn by women in the 18th century, but are not sure how fashionable they were. We are also not yet sure about the 19th century. Our English 19th century archive is limited. We think that they were fairly common, but just do not have the images yet to cofirm it. We think that they were worn throughout the 20th century. But we certainly see bonnets at the turn-of-the 20th century, suggsting that they were also worn at least in the 1890s. So far most of our imagds come from the Edwardian era. We note these fancy headwear garments in the 1900s. Good examples are the elaborate bonnets worn by two Worcester toddlers at the turn-of-the 20th century. Many of our image, however, are undated. Thry certainly were popular in the 1900s. We are not sure about the 1910s. We suspect this was mostly in the early-10s and began to decline in the later-10s during World War I. We see few bonnet images in the 1920s.
Many bonnets were simple and small, but some were elaborate and and huge as we see here (figure 1).
The primary purpose of a baby bonnet is to keep young vulnertabke children warm. Thisis why baby heads re still covered. Even a draft or chill can have dreadfull consequences. Sun opfitction was anther matter. They covered the head and depending on the size provided some shade for sun protection. The turn of the 20th century wasm however, a time when formality in dress was a major part og how people dressed. So mothers took the basic baby bonnet and escalated the size and decoration. We see especially large and frilly ones for special occasions.
Social class was definitely a factor. The well-to-do were fond of huge baby bonnets.
Baby bonnets were for both boys and girls. Todlers were a little different. Most of the toddlers we see wearing them were mostly girls.
Baby bonnetsd were generally done in white.
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