need help dating vintage hat--40s or 50s

[persephone60]

I've narrowed dating of this hat to the 1940s or early 1950s, but I'd like to be more precise. If anyone can help, that would be fantastic! It's a straw hat with front "extensions," a Ransohoff's tag, two hat pins, a Consumers Protection label, and an interior comb.

 

[Rue_de_la_Paix]

That is a darling hat. You would be correct in dating it to the very late 1940s to more likely early-mid 1950s. That particular style of hat can be difficult to pin down to an exact year. I would say early 1950s if I had to guess more closely. The millinery industry tried to popularize what they referred to as "combination straws" in the very early 1950s, especially circa 1952. Natural blonde straw mixed with black velvet was being shown in the very early 1950s (and a year or 2 earlier in Paris). Not that it had not been done before, or after as it remained a popular mix of materials. The idea of mixing black velvet (a traditional winter material) with straw (a spring and summer material) was a way to market hats to women during the difficult (sales wise) transitional period of late winter to spring. Women would often wait to purchase hats until the spring/summer styles were in the stores and so this combo of materials was a way to keep the American hat factories working in off season, and hat shops selling.

Probably more information than you asked for!

 

[persephone60]

Barbara, I love it when you give me long explanations with lots of information--I always learn so much! Thank you!!!!