1870's Cloth Covered Hats and Bonnets
This velvet and crepe hat was made in 2022 for the TV series Billy The Kid.
This is the original image that inspired the hat. It's from La Modiste Universelle 1877.
The hat is trimmed with natural ostrich feathers, rust-colored Boullion rings, Maidenhair fern leaves and some tiny white vintage flowers.
The base is covered in rust-brown velvet and a grey silk crepe band also form the "strings" or ties.
The inside of the brim is covered in the same crepe, slightly twisted for textural interest.
A bit of the grey silk peeks out from under the brim. The base of this hat is a a straw hood that was blocked on a hat block I made myself.
The buckram and wire frame has an concave top and is covered with dark grey taffeta.
Here's the drawing from Harpers that inspired this pillbox hat. This style was meant to be worn with a day dress for visiting or travelling.
Grey shot chiffon forms a bow at the back and drapes around the front. There are horsehair tabs and an elastic to keep it in place.
The chiffon drape is cut on the bias so as to cascade attractively. The drape is not stitched down so it will fit different performers.
This grey pillbox was inspired by a drawing in Harpers Bazar from August of 1872.
Detail of natural ostrich feathers and bow at back of pillbox hat. The price for this hat is $160 CDN.
Detail of hand dyed silk organza and hand dyed gimp trims. The organza was also cut on the bias.
Riding hat made for “Hell On Wheels” 2013. Frame of Fosshape and millinery wire, covered with shot taffeta.
Underside of brim and binding is of brown dupioni silk.
Trimmed with variegated ostrich feathers.
Complicated and colourful gimp forms the band.
This “Round Hat” was made in 2013 for Demi Moore to wear in the movie “Forsaken”.
The buckram frame is covered with a soft brown tweed on the crown and topside of the brim. Brim’s underside and binding is of cotton velvet.
The trimmings are of cotton velvet and the buckle is made of coconut shell.
Horsehair tabs and an elastic cord are used to hold the hat in place.
The hats pictured in this gallery are of styles from the 1870's. It was a time of transition in millinery styles from the bonnets of the 1850's and 1860's to the very small hats of the 1880's. At the beginning of the 1870's styles were quite flat and tended to be worn very far forward on the head. By the end of the decade they were taller and could be worn forward or a bit further back, as the hairstyle dictated. You can have 1870's hats made for your production in any style or colour.
Click on any of these photo's for a closer view.