Dressing 18th Century: Caps and Hats

Accessories to you colonial costume make all the difference. They are what make the clothing and your persona come alive. Two of the first to invest in is the cap and hat.

A Quality Straw Hat Trimmed 18th Century Style

"Advertisements in the Virginia Gazetter indicate colonial merchants and milliners offered a “large and fashionable assortment” of caps, hats and bonnets for sale in their shops. Imported hats, plain or decorated with trimmings, were available for both ladies and gentlemen." (history.org)

Mob Cap and 18th Century Style Straw Hat

Women’s heads were nearly always covered, indoors and out. It has been said that a covered head was in reverence to God. The mob cap and the pinner were popular styles for decades. In spite of a name that implies that the style was worn by the masses of common people, the mobcap was adopted by gentry ladies s well. The small flat caps with lace or ruffles were called pinners, referring to the fact that they were pinned on. Occasionally lace lappets were added to these pinners and worn trailing down, pinned up or tied.

Bonnets of straw were commonly worn outdoors by the French and British women of all social ranks throughout the 18^th century. Often decorated with artificial flowers and ribbons, these hats were worn on top of the ever-present white cap and were considered appropriate for all seasons of the year. Ribbons attached on the underside could be tied under the chin but were more often tied around the cap with a bow in the back. I have found that pinning the cap and the hat through the hair is best to keep everything in place.

Throughout most of the 18th century the three-cornered "cocked hat" was the prevailing style for men's headgear. (The word tricorn was not used until the 19th century.) They were also popular with the ladies, although much fancier. Plumes, feathers, ribbons, braids, and cockades might be attached to decorate the lady's cocked hat. For the most part, the more elite wore these tricorns with their riding habits, while the lesser women wore them with any clothing. Often the working class women obtained tricorns when the men discarded them.

If you are dressing in 18th century costume, don't forget to wear a cap. It is a necessary accessory. If you are dressing in French Colonial, a scarf tied around the head is also acceptable. The hat is not as essential, but it does add so much more to your costume, don't you think?

Where can you buy 18th century style hats for the ladies? At Sassafras Creek Originals  of course! I have fun decorating these hats and find that I have an excess of them. . .Every now and then, I do sell them. Kandye and I like to encourage others to dress in costume by making 18th century clothing and accessories available to everyone. Most costumes and accessories are one of a kind because everyone is unique. Stop by and see what's available. . .anytime. . .