Women's Hats and Accesories in Colonial Times

by Tamera Lynn Kraft

In Colonial America, well-dressed women had a variety of accessories.

Head-coverings: One of the main accessories was the hat. No decent woman would be seen in public unless her hair was up and she had some kind of head covering. Later in American history, women's hats become elaborate, but colonial hats were simple. Colonial women wore three types of head coverings.

Caps: Caps were practical colonial head wear worn by women and children. Caps kept hair clean so it didn't have to be washed as often, and it covered the hair so women didn't have to worry about styling their hair. The cap was made of linen, cotton, or lace and had lace or ruffles sewn on the edge for decoration. If a woman went out in public, she would wear a hat on top of her cap.

Mob Caps: Mob caps became popular in the 1730s and were worn in some form into the next century. A mob cap had a puffed crown placed high on the back of the head, a deep flat border surrounding the face, and side pieces carried down like short lappets, which could be left loose, pinned, or tied under the chin. The flat border usually was frilled or had lace.

 Hats: Every colonial woman had a hat to protect her head out in the sun. It was also considered improper not to wear a hat in public even if she had a cap on her head. The fancier hats were very shallow, and had a flat crown and a wide brim. Most hats were usually made out of chips and straw and would sometimes be covered with cloth.

Riding Hats: Women's riding hats were often made out of felt and would be made similar to a man's riding hat.

Mitts: Mitts were elbow length fingerless gloves worn summer and winter. Winter mitts were made out of wool or heavier fabric. Summer mitts were usually made out of cotton. They were usually embroidered for decoration.

Muffs: Muffs were used to keep the hands warm during the winter and were made out of fur, cloth, or feathers, and were usually padded.

Shoes: Shoes were made of silk fabrics, worsteds, or leathers. Sometimes they would have a small heel. They would fasten by buckles, clasps, or ties.

Sleeve Ruffles: Sleeve ruffles, either plain or lace, were attached to the end of a woman's sleeves. This protected the ruffles for when the woman went out in public so they wouldn't be damaged in daily housework and chores. Some ruffles had lace on the edge.

Pockets: Colonial pockets were two pouches strung on a waistband, and tied around the waist, and worn inside the petticoat. They were not sewn into the dress. Skirts and petticoats were sewn with side slits to access the pockets. Although some women carried handbags, most would keep their valuables in in pockets.

Tamera Lynn Kraft has always loved adventures and writes Christian historical fiction set in America because there are so many adventures in American history. She has received 2^nd place in the NOCW contest, 3^rd place TARA writer’s contest, and was a finalist in the Frasier Writing Contest. Her novellas Resurrection of Hope and A Christmas Promise are available on Amazon and at Barnes and Noble.

Cap - Most of the time women wore a simple cap made of linen or cotton. The cap was easy to manage and kept the woman's hair from getting dirty. Caps were sometimes very simple, but could also be dressed up with lace. Women wearing colonial era hats Three styles of hats (the cap is shown in the middle) Photo by Ducksters Hat - Women almost always wore hats when they were outside in order to protect their skin from the sun. Hats could be made of straw, silk, or felt and may be decorated with various items such as ribbons, flowers, and feathers. Mob cap - A mob cap was a larger version of the cap that covered the hair and had frilly edges that surrounded the face. It was sometimes called a "bonnet."

Read more at: http://www.ducksters.com/history/colonial_america/womens_clothing.php
This text is Copyright © Ducksters. Do not use without permission.

Cap - Most of the time women wore a simple cap made of linen or cotton. The cap was easy to manage and kept the woman's hair from getting dirty. Caps were sometimes very simple, but could also be dressed up with lace. Women wearing colonial era hats Three styles of hats (the cap is shown in the middle) Photo by Ducksters Hat - Women almost always wore hats when they were outside in order to protect their skin from the sun. Hats could be made of straw, silk, or felt and may be decorated with various items such as ribbons, flowers, and feathers. Mob cap - A mob cap was a larger version of the cap that covered the hair and had frilly edges that surrounded the face. It was sometimes called a "bonnet."

Read more at: http://www.ducksters.com/history/colonial_america/womens_clothing.php
This text is Copyright © Ducksters. Do not use without permission.

Topping It Off - Late 18th Century Hats by Cynthia Howerter

Everyone wore hats during colonial times. No matter the style or the wearer, hats served a purpose. Please join me as we take a look at some hats I saw on a recent strolls through Williamsburg.

When I stopped at the tinsmith's shop, I noticed the proprietor was wearing a tradesman's knit cap. It's not fancy, but it serves to keep his head warm in his drafty shop during the cold months and stop perspiration from getting into his eyes during Virginia's hot summers.

This enterprising young tradesman was selling freshly baked ginger cakes on Duke of Gloucester Street on a very hot day.

His cap is made from a coarse linen fabric. Not only does this hat ensure the gentleman's head won't be sunburned, the reddish-colored band prevents perspiration from running down his face and neck.

The most popular hat for middling and gentry men was the tri-corn or cocked hat which was folded on three sides. Because it was the custom for a man to carry his hat under his arm, a folded hat made that easier. Men's hats could be cocked, that is, folded, on one, two, or three sides. The preferred material for tri-corn hats was beaver felt.

This gentleman's straw hat is cocked on one side. Rather dashing, don't you think? The hat, I mean.

The town blacksmith left the heat of his shop to take a brief break. He's wearing a brimmed hat that hasn't been cocked.

This lovely young lady is wearing a wide-brimmed straw hat decorated with green ribbon. Not only is it pretty, it protects her face from sunburn and keeps the sun out of her eyes. She's also wearing a white mob cap with a ruffled edge. Mob caps were an important part of a woman's daily attire. Indeed, women and girls were not considered fully dressed without a mob cap covering their hair.

Straw hats were usually secured with a ribbon tied at the nape of the neck rather than under the chin.

Because frequent bathing was thought to be unhealthy during the eighteenth century, colonial women did not wash their hair often. Mob caps served to hide the condition of a woman's hair. This accomplished woman is wearing a short-brimmed straw hat on top of a mob cap that hangs low behind her neck.

If you're in need of a hat, I recommend stopping at the Mary Dickinson Shop in Colonial Williamsburg. With so many beautiful hats to choose from, it's hard to make a decision ... perhaps you and I should each buy two. Or three.

Award winning author Cynthia Howerter loves using her training in education, research, writing, and speaking to teach and inspire others about a time in America that was anything but boring. A member of the Daughters of the American revolution (DAR), Cynthia believes history should be alive and personal.



Visit Cynthia's website: Cynthia Howerter - all things historical

Photographs by ©2015 Cynthia Howerter