Figure 1.--These children are unidentified. The younger child in the white dress could be a boy, but we think his decorated hat suggest that the child is probably a girl. These children were photographed at the Aufrecht studio in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, we think in the 1890s.

Hats in the 18th century were very different for men and women. Major changes in hedwear occurred arond the turn-of-the 19th century. We see women and children in the 19th century wearing the rounded crown hat, but the hats for women and girls were often decorated more elaborately. Girls migh wear plain hats as well, but they were more likely to be decorated. Boys might wear dresses, but as far as we can tell, they usually had plain hats rather yhan the decorated hats the girls wore. Of course mother could do whatever they wanted, so we would not say that noys never had the decorated hats. Sailor hats were a style both boys and girls could wear. Hats in the 20th century were very different for boys and girls. We notice Frances Wells Quintin wearing a concical straw hat about 1880. Hats declined in populasrity for both boys and girls after World War II.

Created: 4:40 AM 12/31/2010
Last updated: 4:40 AM 12/31/2010