Figure 1.--Here we see mother and girls all wearing hats with rounded crowns. The different brim treatment means to us that we are moving from the 1920s to the 1930s, suggesting the snapshot was probably taken in the late-1920s The boys wear school caps. Notice how common head wear was when going outside. Also notice the tiny bit of ice cream in their cones.

We continue to see English girls at the turn-of-the 20th century wearing tams for everyday and wide brimmed hats when dressing up. The hats could be heavily decorated, although some were plain. We continue to de sailor hats in the early-20th century. They might have wide brims, but be very simple. Other wide-brimmed hats could elaborate decorations. The hat on the previous page is a good example. Hair bows increased in popularity after the turn-of-the 20th century, especially in the 1910s. Some girls chose to wear hair bows rather than hats or tams in the 1910s. The two are rarely worn together. We see some girls, mostly older girls wear boaters. Helmet-style cloche hats appeared in the 1920s (figure 1). Until after World War II (1939-45), head wear was a very important item and much more prevalent than today. People were not considered fully dressed without head wear. The conventions for children were not as intense, but we also see children commonly wearing head wear including elaborate head wear. Both boys and girls wore hats in the 19th century, although styles varied for boys and girls. After the turn-of-the 20th century boys primarily began wearing caps. Caps were never very popular for girls who continued to wear hats for some time. Girls also wore other head wear, including berets, bonnets, Scottish bonnets, and tams. Scottish bonnets and sailor head wear are often referred to as caps, but because they have not brim or bill. Girls did not wear caps with bills until the late 20th century when we begin to see some girls wearing American baseball caps, mostly when involved in sports. The same is true of stocking caps which were worn by both boys and girls during the winter. All of this varied chronologically. After World War II we see some girls wearing narrow-brim, rounded crown hats with streamers when dressing up, but gradually head wear in general began going out of style. Hats persisted for a time at private schools, but by the end of the century hats were no longer very common.

The 1900s

Formality still dominated fashion including children's fashion at the turn-of-the 20th century. We continue to see English girls at the turn-of-the 20th century wearing tams for everyday and wide brimmed hats when dressing up. The hats could be heavily decorated, although some were plain. We continue to de sailor hats in the early-20th century. They might have wide brims, but be very simple. Other wide-brimmed hats could elaborate decorations. The hat on the previous page is a good example. The girls wide brims could be bent jin places abd not perfectly rounded. Both boys and girls wore hats in the 19th century, although styles varied for boys and girls. After the turn-of-the 20th century boys primarily began wearing caps. Caps were never very popular for girls who continued to wear hats for some time. Girls also wore other head wear, including berets, bonnets, Scottish bonnets, and tams. Scottish bonnets and sailor head wear are often referred to as caps, but because they have not brim or bill.

The 1910s

We still note very formal fashion at the onset of the the 1910s decade. Hair bows increased in popularity after the turn-of-the 20th century, especially in the 1910s. Here we note a major difference with America. Gairbows became adominate style, sometimes giant hair bows. This was never the case in England. Some girls chose to wear hair bows rather than hats or tams in the 1910s. The two of course are rarely worn together. We see some girls, mostly older girls wear boaters. World War I erupted in the mid-1910s (1914). This would have powerful impact on fashion leading toward practicality and informality. A war of such dimensins could not, but force a change from the formaility and heavily decorated styles of the early-20h century.

The 1920s

The oractuicaklity and informality generated by World War I became a major incluence in the 1920s. Helmet-style cloche hats appeared in the 1920s (figure 1). Until after World War II (1939-45), head wear was a very important item and much more prevalent than today. People were not considered fully dressed without head wear. The conventions for children were not as intense, but we also see children commonly wearing head wear including elaborate head wear.

The 1950s

After World War II we see some girls wearing prim narrow-brim, rounded crown hats with streamers when dressing up, but gradually head wear in general began going out of style. Hats persisted for a time at private schools, but by the end of the century hats were no longer very common.

The 1980s

Girls did not wear caps with bills until the late 20th century when we begin to see some girls wearing American baseball caps, mostly when involved in sports. The same is true of stocking caps which were worn by both boys and girls during the winter. All of this varied chronologically.

The 1990s

Created: 11:37 PM 4/7/2020
Last updated: 3:49 AM 10/15/2024