READ THIS: Women's Hats of the 20th Century, by Maureen Reilly and Mary Beth Detrich Our Coverage Sponsored by Ellen Christine Couture Millinery, Official Milliner of Whom You Know
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In today's society, women's hats are, unfortunately, noticeably absent from most women's wardrobes. Once a staple of female attire, hats, when worn at all, are worn more for function than for style. However, for many centuries, any well-dressed woman wouldn't dare be seen without one. Indeed, until the mid 20th century, women were even required to wear them to church! However, although they are not as prevalent in fashion as they once were, we can still appreciate and admire them (and of course, wear them)! And for all hat lovers (designers and collectors alike), there is a fantastic book published by Schiffer Publishing called Women's Hats of the 20th Century. Written by Maureen Reilly and Mary Beth Detrich, Women's Hats of the 20th Century is as informative as it is entertaining. Nearly 600 color pictures line its pages, and there is a wealth of information about the history of hats, the evolution of hat design, the art of millinery, and much, much more. It is well-researched, well-constructed, and an absolute must for any hat lover!
There is one article of clothing that just does not get as much attention as it used to. It also happens to be one of my favorite fashion accessories. A great hat is not only incredibly fashionable, but it also is so functional at any time of year! Although today hats do not seem to be as popular as they once were, it is still possible to appreciate the amazing designs of hats from years gone by. Women's Hats of the 20th Century, by Maureen Reilly and Mary Beth Detrich showcases the best hat designs from the last century. This book contains nearly 600 beautiful photos gorgeous hats. Each photo is accompanied by an informative caption. If you are a hat lover like me, you will simply drool over all these wonderful chapeaux! Unfortunately I cannot own a hat collection this extensive, but at least I have this wonderful book!
For those of us in the fashion industry, any and all visual aids are immediately scooped up for our personal libraries. Schiffer published this book in 1997, and it's a brilliant collection of silhouettes, styles, shape and fabrication of hats through the decades.
As a reference guide, as inspiration, this colorful book provides page after page of delight. Maureen Reilly and Mary Beth Detrich, hat lovers both, compiled hats from their favorite eras, as lent by collectors and purveyors of fine vintage. Hatboxes, and vintage mannequins lend an air of the historical to the layout, and the captions provide a brief description of each hat, with a source,and a price point. When this book was first published, the current craze for fascinators had not yet hit the worldwide fashionable. The Royal Wedding had not yet happened, and China had not yet become the manufacturing mecca for wholesale hat labels. Now that hats are more and more an important element of stylish men and women everywhere, and seen on every page of fashion magazines, this book will show just what used to be. Perhaps the prices are a bit irrelevant now, but the truly expansive overview of hats from eras gone by will show students of costume history just where all the ideas came from. This is a book for the fashionista, for the collector, and for the high style member of your set. The perfect gift: this book, and a vintage hat. Hats as art form, therein lies the crux of the matter.
American woman have not worn hats for decades. Interestingly enough, the decades of hats shown in this book are truly for designers and collectors as most of them were not anything I could envision wearing. I enjoyed looking at the illustrations in the book of which there were many. Hats and fascinators have gotten more attention lately. This is thanks to Princess Kate and her royal wedding with guests who took hats to a whole new level. So if you have a passion for fashion and adding to your look with a topper then you will enjoy this book. The Publishing house Schiffer has a unique way of showcasing design and its tie to history. Women’s Hats of the 20th Century is no exception.
I am new to wearing hats as an accessory. I have never really thought about how to pick one that would work with the outfit I'm wearing. I could see myself wearing a hat much like the one on page 19 with a spring dress. I also loved the 50's style black hat on page 45. I could see me wearing that for a night out. I am so excited to find more hats to fit not only my personality, but my outfits. I found the inspiration and explination for many of these hats to be very interesting. I can't wait to learn more. If you know of anyone who loves hats, this book is a must have. I highly recommend it.
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Hats represent an art form that is opening up new vistas for the vintage clothing collector. For the authors hats are a visual treat, and they have crafted a book that is chuck-full of some of the sweetest you'll ever see. This carefully researched book profiles important American and European milliners, and lists the most desirable designer and salon labels. It offers special sections with tips on dating, valuation, and storing and decoration. 500 vivid photos are beautifully styled and enhanced by lively and informative captions. Many period advertisements and illustrations from popular magazines depict the styles and moods of the times.
