In Your Easter Bonnet

This week, instead of colour combinations, a look at some deco hat inspiration for your 'Easter Bonnet'.

1928

The wearing of new hats and clothes to Easter church services and the parade afterwards is a tradition that goes back to at least the 16th century, and signified redemption, renewal and the end of Lent, a time of fasting and abstinence. It was also Spring in the Northern Hemisphere, the perfect time to get a new hat ready for summer.

Easter Parade on 5th Avenue, New York 1908

During the depression of the 1930's, with it's 30% unemployment rate, not many people could afford new clothes, and a new, or refurbished, hat was a much cheaper option.  The word bonnet, although used in the 1800s, did not enter into Easter until 1948, with movie musical of 'Easter Parade' by Irving Berlin.  'In your Easter bonnet, with all the frills upon it,' sang by Judy Garland sounded better that "In your Easter Hat, with all the frills and that."

Easter Parade Poster, 1948

So now an Easter bonnet is a tradition. And even in Australia we wear, and wore, hats in Autumn.

Australian Home Journal, 1930

Making your own hat was even cheaper than buyin one, and crochet hats became popular in the 30s. This polkadot hat would be lovely for Easter. You can buy the pattern here.

Some more inspiration:

1936 - Ginger Rogers in a Lily Dache hat 

1937 Worth Hat 

Sears catalogue, 1927

Bows and flowers are easy additions to a plain hat:

c. 1937

1938- Dark Blue Forward Tilting Hat w Satin Bows.

Or even feathers, or birds:

c. 1938

1937

1939

Or you could try and attract the Easter bunny by looking like a carrot.

1939

For me this would be the perfect outfit for Easter Sunday - a pretty hat with flowers, but not too tizzy, and a dress demure enough for church, but quite stunning. Don't you think?

Jeune femme aux courses de Longchamp, 1939

I am off to a cocktail party tonight. How Exciting!

Deb  xxx