From Bonnets to Hats, 1830-1930

Bonnets used to be the de rigueur headwear for women, but by the 1920s no modern women would be caught dead wearing an old-fashioned bonnet instead of a stylish hat. Leslie Bellais, curator of costume and textiles at the Wisconsin Historical Society, will explore the reasons for this change from bonnets to hats while also looking at stylistic changes over time. She will illustrate her presentation with bonnets and hats from the Society's collection and reproductions for audience members to model.