Boater I.D.

funksauce

funksauce

Registered Guest
Hi everyone, this is my first time posting a question, along with pics nonetheless, so I hope it all comes out ok. I have a straw boater hat that I think dates from the 1950's. Aside from verifying that, is this a woman's or a man's?--it fits my man-head just fine. Did women wear boaters? Thank you in advance--I read all the posts on the board and enjoy learning on this site! Chris

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Hi Chris - I am not a hat person at all, but I do guess with that bow it was for a woman. Remember we often have more hair (!!) and it if is 50's/60's, it was made to fit over more pouffy hair styles. I'd love to hear what others think.
 
I found a 1965 newspaper article about straw hats for men and women. The woman's hat has a taller crown than yours and the brim is level, but the caption to the very grainy photo says: "PERFECT TWOSOME -- She will be wearing the same kind of straw hat as he does this summer on the links, as witnessed by the above photo. Both hats are in lightweight natural cocoanuts with air conditioned ventilated crowns. Note her brim, turned down all around and bound in madras plaid to match the band."

In the text for the accompanying article it also notes that: "A new innovation in golf hats is the His 'n Her straws. These are air-conditioned cocoanuts, which are not guaranteed to imporve your game, but to provide a smart look on the fairway. As an added bonus, the purchaser of the Flag-Hi Golf Straw by Dobbs receives a free golf ball."


Lynne
 
Thanks ladies! Great article, Lynne. I didn't realize that women wore hats like these, let alone in the 60's, let alone on a golf course. Fore!
 
i don't want to rain on anyone's parade, but that isn't a boater hat (they have very flat brims, and wider than the one you have); that little turned up brim is referred to as porkpie or stingy hat; they were popular in the 40's and 50's, then in the 90's they re-surged after the movie Bennie and Joon with Johnny Dep (we sold MOUNTAINS of them...)

your label looks more 50's-ish, rather than 90's, so that's good, but

the gingham along the top and on the rim look hastily applied, not quality work at all with the zig-zag finish and loose threads. could it be it was added later maybe?
 
Ahh, thank you Mary, you have a good eye for the turned up brim, and now that you mention it, the top is about a quarter of an inch concave, not flat. I'll have to take a closer look at the sewing job as well. Thank you for the clarification and information--and the welcome!
 
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