2001.104.46

Unknown

1940s

This 1940s hat is made of olive grain straw with a depressed crown that is contrasted by an asymmetrically curved brim. Delicate velvet flowers in pink and red with green leaves surround the brim with clusters of rosebuds. Plagued by the hardships of WWII, milliners in the 1940s used their creativity to make up for restricted materials by incorporating more unique and unusually decorative options. This led to the popularization of smaller hat styles adorned with feminine notions.11 Modeled after war uniforms, fashion styles of the 1940s took on a masculine design. This millinary piece provided an alternative to austere modes as a whimsical option.

Compare to this record: Ackermann Fashion Plate

Although made in different time periods, the palette that is used in the Ackermann print and the 1940s hat mirror one another beautifully.Varing shades of pink with reds and touches of a mossy green mix attractively with the floral detailing, creating distinctly feminine looks. The dreamy impression that the Ackermann print suggests is reminiscent of the aura found in the Romantic era that would impact the early years of the 19th century. The green straw hat defies the masculine aesthetic of wartime, as this feminine rebellion of style foreshadows the coming popularity of the New Look that would be launched in 1947. In the post-war years, fashion trends embraced all things classically ladylike, yet with a modern take.

10 Harper Franklin, "1810-1819," Fashion History Timeline, June 1, 2020. https://fashionhistory.fitnyc.edu/1810-1819/.
11 "1940s Hats History," Vintage Dancer, March 2, 2015. https://vintagedancer.com/1940s/1940s-hats/.