Women's Hats in America

From bonnets and baseball caps to beanies and sun hats, there’s no doubt that hats are ingrained into the fabric of American culture. Protecting the head from the environment while simultaneously accenting an outfit has been popular since the middle ages. In that era, churches pushed modesty and were trying hard to reform the pagan masses. Since this time, hat trends have evolved with the culture to reflect current styles.

In the United States, hat trends started out of necessity. Milliners of the new world created modest bonnets for women, while men wore wide brimmed hats. The composition of these hats included materials ranging in price from free to expensive. Straw and river bank pussy willows were often woven into hats to protect pioneers from the sun, while socialites wore silk, satin, lace, muslin and more.

By the 1900’s women wore decorative bird feathers in their caps and hats became smaller and much more stylish. Public occasions and religious worship often dictated that dress hats, or church hats, be worn. Church hats for women sometimes included veils, especially during funerals. Women in mourning wore black clothing from head to toe, including small, veiled hats for a period of one year follow the death of a loved one.

For decades, hats have been used primarily as a fashion statement. For the last twenty years or so, hats began to wane in popularity. Thanks to trend setters such as Kate Middleton, hats are booming in popularity once again. Summer hats worn by the worlds’ most loved princess during public appearances sell out mere hours after even photos are released to the media. Recently, her collection of English derby hats has sparked a buying frenzy.

Celebrity fans of dress hats include Ashley and Jessica Simpson, Angelina Jolie, Beyoncé, Demi Lovato and more. Sandra Bullock even wears Dallas derby hats! Styles of dress hats and summer or winter hats are now influenced by by-gone eras. Pancake hats, women’s bowler hats, women’s fedoras, super wide brimmed sun hats and others that graced the heads of the masses generations ago are once again very much in vogue.

To fit current styles, modern-day milliners now make seasonally appropriate hats that can be worn with everything from cocktail dresses to jeans. Winter hats are usually darker in color, while summer hats are lighter and designed to accent outfits while shading the face.

Worn to work, church, in cities or on farms; they’re almost always appropriate! Browse our selection of women’s’ hats today.