1920s Women`s Headwear

Hats from the early to mid 20s.
Hats in the early 20s tended to be
roomier to accommodate women’s
long hair piled up in back. As
more women bobbed their hair, or
wore it in a sleek knot at the nape
of the neck, hats were designed
tighter and tighter to the head – thus
the “cloche,” French for “bell.”
Varieties of cloches from c. 1925 – 1927.
Cloche meant “bell” in French.
Even with the popularity of the cloche, other types of brimmed
hats were still worn, and even western –style hats, as in movie
still on lower right.
In 1928 the cloche got very deep/
elongated, as can be seen in
the lower row of hats. Upper
row is probably form earlier
than 1928, or more conservative
in cut.
In 1929/1930, the “helmet
cloche” became popular –
forehead revealed and back
of neck covered.
For evening wear, women in the
1910s and early to mid 1920s
sometimes wore exotic headpieces
that were
either a hold-over from Art
Nouveau or had Eqyptian motifs.
These styles were usually worn
with long hair done up in an
elaborate hairdo.
All these headpieces and turban are from movies, movie stills, and one commercial photo.
Actress Fredi Washington’s character is supposed to be fainting in the movie scene lower right, thus the pained expression.
Examples of headbands & tiaras (metal, rhinestones, pearls, etc). In the 1920s these were more typically worn back on the head, rather than over
the brow like a hippy headband as in many of today’s flapper costumes (see photo bottom right). The over-the-brow style was a hold-over from
the 1910s, but was still sometimes done with the fastening fairly low in the back, as in the photo on the upper left (c. 1920-24). The beaded
brocade headband with long white feather (bottom row) probably dates from c.1910-1924, as it is sized to fit over long hair.
More headbands: these were
generally worn low on back
of the head. Scarves were
sometimes over the brow on
top of the hair or bangs, and
sometimes above the hairline. The
first three photos are from c.1920.
.
Note: above Delores del Rio
is wearing her longish hair
down, in Hollywood’s
“exotic” Mexican style.
Beaded and sequinned evening caps were popular in the second half of the decade. The hat on the top left is from the first half of the decade.