This book has been a long time in coming, but well worth the wait. Thank you to all who shared stories, costume artefacts, and images for this project. I am now working on a second book in this series, Darlings of Dress; Children’s Costume 1920 – 1940.
Category Archives: Children’s Millinery
Bonnets and Dazzlers and history, Oh My!
Enthusiasm for hats ran high at the Canadian Antique Collectors Association meeting in Toronto this month. Members came prepared to model, learn about, and share their own stories of hats on Wednesday, May 20th, at Toronto’s Montgomery Inn, where I presented yet another Retrospective Millinery Fashion Show. The rustic setting came alive with oohs and aahs as volunteersContinue reading “Bonnets and Dazzlers and history, Oh My!”
Spring Fling
Powder blue revival bonnet, a bridesmaid’s or flower girl’s treasure from the mid-twentieth century. Delicate fabric flowers trim the slightly upturned brim of this satin sensation.
Matchy Matchy
A child’s bonnet and drawstring purse set fashioned from straw and rayon satin. Tiny velvet flowers punctuate the ribbon bows that mark the corners of the bonnet. This set may be from the 1930s when matched sets were highly fashionable.
Lace Bonnet with Fan-Tail Bavolet
This exquisite 19th-century lace bonnet with pleated brim and fan-tail bavolet was fashioned for a child when lace signified luxury.
Daisy Bedecked 1960s Easter Bonnet
This darling little daisy bedecked Easter bonnet for a young girl was likely factory-made in the 1960s – a time when a new spring outfit complete with hat, coat, and gloves was de rigeur for mothers and daughters alike. As a child of the ’60s. I am such a fan of daisies that I dedicated anContinue reading “Daisy Bedecked 1960s Easter Bonnet”
Felt Bonnet with Embroidered Pointsettia
This seasonal child’s bonnet from the Victorian era has terrific back interest. The unlined felt treasure is attributed to a home sewer and would be fairly simple to reproduce. The segments are stitched together but could be easily molded from a felt hood using an appropriate hat block. Ribbon ties in Christmas colours have replaced the original ties.
Ribbons and Bows
I am currently exploring the world of children’s millinery and enjoying the search for children’s vintage hats and bonnets. Baby bonnets, of course, abound and those from the Victorian era are particularly dear. This little treasure is an embroidered net with cream-coloured, silk ribbon ties and brow-line self-fabric flowers; likely a Christening bonnet. The machine-embroidered netContinue reading “Ribbons and Bows”
