Last week’s focus was work hats for men; now it’s the ladies turn.
I love photographing multiple images of the same person. For instance, this woman features in two separate photographs–one wearing a hat and jacket while the other without. These show how hair styles and hat trends influence each other; their shapes and styles were dictated by hair trends at that moment in time and vice versa.
Hats from the 1880s can be fascinating pieces of artwork. Their high crowns, small brims, and abundance of trim – in this instance a plush fabric decorated with feathers and botanical elements – is mesmerizing. Additionally, women raised birds at home specifically to sell to hat makers as stuffers for stuffing purposes.
In the second image, this woman has removed her hat and sits for the photographer without her jacket as well.
Her drop earrings and ruffled collar are identical, suggesting she posed for both photos on the same day. Her frizzy bangs poking out from under her front-brimmed hat further suggest this was probably shot on film.
Alman is a photographer with studios both in New York and Newport. Given that many affluent families from New York City own mansions in Rhode Island’s coastal town, maintaining his customers in both locations makes good business sense for Alman.
If you want to gain more insight into historical hats or hairstyles from various periods, check out my Fashionable Folks: Bonnets and Hats from 1840-1900 or my Fashionable Folks: Hairstyles from 1840-1900 books. There’s even an exclusive offer this month in Family Tree Shop with 10% off for Bonnets and Hats by entering HAT10 as a coupon code!
Take advantage of this month’s Family Tree Shop deal of the month by spending $30 on select products and get a Family Tree Problem Solver book download free!
