Figure 1.--This studio cabinent card portrait of two beothers are expertly posed in a winter wonderland scene including a sled. They wear double breasted winter coats that look rather like pea jackets. The headwear does not, however, look prticularly suited for winterwear because there are no ear flaps. It is not real clear what the boys are wearing. The older boy seems to be wearing a sailor cap. The other a tam. The portrait was taken by Brainerd in Rome, New York. The portrait is undated, but looks to have been taken in the 1890s.

We note a variety of headwear worn during the winter. They include both styles specifically worn for cold weather as well as popular styles that were worn more for fashion than for keeping warm. A key indicator that a headwear was for winterwer was that it had ear flaps or like a stocking czp, could be pulled down o cover the ears. Some cold weather garments have remained virtully unchnged such as the ever popular stocking cap. I'm not entirely sure why the sticking cap has remained so popular over time, but it is sureky a unique combination of effectiveness, inexpensive cist, and practicality. Woodsmen or hunting caps, often done in plaid, wee popular mostly in northern states. Another popular winter styles wre the helmet caps with earflaps that could be worn up or down. Some flat caps also had ear flaps, but we are unsure how common they were.

Created: 6:43 PM 8/18/2008
Last updated: 4:56 AM 2/14/2023