several hats - dating

blubirdboutique

blubirdboutique

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Picked up a few hats recently and they always confuse me! Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you.
 

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Actual photos of the labels help because logos change over the years. This helps with dating. :)
Have you checked out label resource? Our h
at resource?
 
Luna Junction said:
Actual photos of the labels help because logos change over the years. This helps with dating. :)
Have you checked out label resource? Our h
at resource?
Click to expand...

Thanks! Yes, I have checked both. I didn't see anything concrete with the Pennington label except they are usually well=made, which this one also seems to be. I don't really see this shape, either. I find hats difficult because they seem to borrow characteristics and blend them together from different eras so I get confused. :) I'm leaning toward 60s for some reason on the pink one, but it could be 40s. I just wanted an opinion mostly. :)
 
The hats are such a classic style, that is can be difficult to determine. My fist thought was that they are both 1970s. I think the Gwen Pennington is probably 1970s. Most of her hats I have seen usually have her more ornate and upscale 1960s label which is completely different looking. I have seen your hat's label one or twice before but was not able to determine the age of those hats (saw the hats only in photos). While it is difficult to be sure judging only by your photos, I think the Pennington pink/red hat has been altered. The interior looks very strange, with slapdash added stitches through the grosgrain ribbon, and odd "cuts" or folds in that same ribbon band. The label also is sewn on oddly, with obvious red stitches that look clumsily done and are the wrong color thread. My guess is that the hat was altered to make it larger in head size, and/or the pretty satin ribbon sash and bow were added at a later date.

As for the second hat, the all red one. I think it is 1970s or thereabouts. It could even be 1980s when veils made a come back on wide brim hats for a time. I am not seeing anything 1940s about this hat. The veil maybe, but that could have been added or is a later more contemporary veil. The hat is wool (I believe both are wool) and unfortunately it is badly out of shape. It probably has a lot of sizing in it which was added to help keep the shape when it was made, and this was not generally done in the 1940s for that type hat. The sizing will make it harder to re-shape this hat which is why wool hats from that time are so hard to re block (generally). It is hard to see the label but I think it looks 1960s or 1970s to me also.
 
Rue_de_la_Paix said:
The hats are such a classic style, that is can be difficult to determine. My fist thought was that they are both 1970s. I think the Gwen Pennington is probably 1970s. Most of her hats I have seen usually have her more ornate and upscale 1960s label which is completely different looking. I have seen your hat's label one or twice before but was not able to determine the age of those hats (saw the hats only in photos). While it is difficult to be sure judging only by your photos, I think the Pennington pink/red hat has been altered. The interior looks very strange, with slapdash added stitches through the grosgrain ribbon, and odd "cuts" or folds in that same ribbon band. The label also is sewn on oddly, with obvious red stitches that look clumsily done and are the wrong color thread. My guess is that the hat was altered to make it larger in head size, and/or the pretty satin ribbon sash and bow were added at a later date.

As for the second hat, the all red one. I think it is 1970s or thereabouts. It could even be 1980s when veils made a come back on wide brim hats for a time. I am not seeing anything 1940s about this hat. The veil maybe, but that could have been added or is a later more contemporary veil. The hat is wool (I believe both are wool) and unfortunately it is badly out of shape. It probably has a lot of sizing in it which was added to help keep the shape when it was made, and this was not generally done in the 1940s for that type hat. The sizing will make it harder to re-shape this hat which is why wool hats from that time are so hard to re block (generally). It is hard to see the label but I think it looks 1960s or 1970s to me also.
Click to expand...

Yes, now that you mention it the stitches are a bit sloppy and odd! This is usually why I stay away from hats, they are confusing to me! I have a few more I need to post for help as well :) I think after that I'll probably stay away from hats for awhile haha. The 2nd hat also does look kinda beat up for sure. I do have a steamer but it may be too far out of shape. I did pick up this big wooden head that the seller of the hats said was supposed to help re-shape hats, I'll have to post an image of it. Thanks for your help!
 
Would love to see a better pic of the red hat’s label. This one could be 40’s. Not seeing 70s with that color (faded?) grosgrain.
 
red hat 1.jpg
I also would like better photos of the second hat (red) and the label. Here is a blown up shot but it is very blurry. It looks like it says "Gina" or "Regina" or something like that.

Grandams Closet, I do not believe Jonathan has posted an opinion on this thread.

Anyway, for now I am sticking to my contemporary dating, until we can see close ups of the details. I am trying, but just cannot see 1940s in this hat. But then again it is hard to see it!

Might I ask, is the grosgrain hatband sewn on, or glued, etc? Does the wool used for the hat feel stiff at all? Are there any marking at all stamped in the wool? How is the edge finished, looks like it is bound? What is on the back of the ribbon bow, and is the ribbon bow glued or sewn on?
 
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