Figure 1.-- Here we see two children about 1-4 years old. The baby wears a huge bonnet and the boy a large wide--brimmed saolor hat. We are not bsure who the adult is based on her dress she is not a nanny who were commonly uniformed. She is either a governess or a parent. We are also unsure about her headwear. The photograph is undated, but the clothes suggest the mid-1890s.

Headwear today is not a very important fahion element. And not commonly worn except in inclementt weather. This was very different in the 19th and first half of the 20th century. Headwear was a very important part of not only fashionable dress, but also everyday dress by ordinary people, This included children--including the very youngest. Infants wore bonnets, which could be huge comapred to the child's sine, virtually engulfing them. Infant boys and girls wore the same styles of bonnets. Older girls wore basically small editions of their mother's hats. Boys had dedstinctive styles. Younger boys for some reason wore especially large headwear--often huge broad-brimmed sailor hats. Adults also commonly wore headwear. This was the case for both mnen and women. Headwear was also a social-class indicator. The well-to-do wore hats. Working-class people were more likely to wear caps.

Created: 9:20 PM 1/17/2020
Last updated: 9:20 PM 1/17/2020