Amish Boys Clothing: Headwear


Figure 1.--These Amish children had their photo taken on Sunday, probably after the Worship service. The boys wear vests rather than suit jackets when dressing up. These boys wear the telescope hats. The girls wear bonnets.

Amish men and boys wear black or straw broad-brimmed hats when outside. Girls and women wear bonnets. The broad-brimmed straw hats are one of the most destinctive items of Amish dress. Both the men and boys werar them. The straw hats are for summer. The black wool hats are worn in the winter. Boys begin wearing the hats at about age 2 years. There are differences. Younger boys concervative men, older men, and ministers common wore rounded-crown hats. This was a very popular boys' hat style in the 19th century. We suspect that more Amish boys and men wore it at the time. Now most Amish boys by about age 10 years wear what is called a "telescope" hat with a flat top. We also see 19th century boys wearingvthese hats. We note an unidentified boy about 1850 wearing one wiuth a tunic. Creases are pressed into the crown's inner edge. We now noitice even younger boys wearing the telescope hats. These telescope hats are worn by youths and men until about age 40 years.

Sources

Kraybill, Donalf B. The Riddle of Amish Culture.







HBC





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Created: 5:26 AM 3/19/2010
Last updated: 8:12 AM 3/21/2010