Abbey, I answered this on your other thread....you posted 2 threads....maybe we can delete this thread....so as not to confuse!
Hello and welcome.
A young lady of about 20, lower middle class, educated. In the late 1870's women wore hats, and they also wore bonnets. It really would depend on the occasion and circumstances as to what kind she would choose, as well as her own personal taste. Her class and income would not make too much of a difference in her style of hat, except in the quality of the hat and the fancier trimmings would be out of her financial reach. I would think that a young woman would lean much more to wearing a hat (rather than a bonnet) for most occasions. Hats were generally worn more by younger women (not exclusively however) during that time period. Older women usually wore bonnets (but not always). For day time she probably would choose a small basic hat of hardy straw with the best trimmings she could afford and she probably would change the trimmings on the same hat to suit the occasion or the season, as she would get more mileage out of a hat that way. She could, of course, choose to wear a bonnet sometimes (a hat that ties under the chin with ribbons) if she had more money to spend. But if she could afford only 1 or 2 hats, they would probably not be a bonnet.
Also, if her personality was demure or shy etc, perhaps a bonnet might fit her character better. But if she is feisty and strong willed, or a bit daring, a hat would definitely be what she would wear.
For night time indoor events and dinners, dances, etc.... a traditional hat or bonnet would not be worn...she would generally wear ribbons, flowers, feathers, or lace "confections" in her hair. Indoors during the day women of many ages, even the lower classes, would generally wear some lace or cotton cap on their heads.
I hope this information was helpful.
