Why did they do that on hats?

[lkranieri]

A few years ago I was giving a talk on the history of hats to an historical society in a nearby community. At the end a gentleman in the audience asked why women's hats (primarily in the 1950s) had veils on the front. The friend who was helping me suggested a reason (to be shared here later), but it never seemed quite right to me. I think about that question often and I have never seen a good explanation for that. Have you?

 

[Circa Vintage Clothing]

I always associate veils on hats as cocktail hats and thought it was about adding mystery....I wonder what others think?

In the early part of the 20th century hats had veils but I think they had practical purposes then: eg to protect from dust when driving etc. Since then I think that veils have been more decorative, but I'm not a hat expert.

Nicole

 

[amandainvermont]

Wikipedia says in the 13th century veils were only for noble women and they were forbidden for prostitutes and common women.

I don't know the more recent reasons either, although who can forget Jackie Kennedy's huge veil at JFK's funeral. Other than for mourning, perhaps they were also for protection, as Nicole says, even from the sun, and then they morphed into being fashionable. I certainly remember lots of hats with veils in the 50's. Every woman (and girl) wore a hat in church - I wonder if this has anything to do with it as well.

 

[Jonathan]

My take would be this:
While the original purpose of veils was for modesty by the time you get to the 1950s a little net veil has no reason - its just a pretty little whimsy that adds a bit of coquetry to a hat.
Veils were originally used to cover the hair and show subservience to God (and also denote a married woman from a maiden at times). However, when you look at Medieval paintings it becomes clear that by the 15th century veils are already becoming tools of flirtation. The way they are draped and pinned brings attention the face and figure. With the introduction of hats, veils take on useful aspects - keeping hats on and keeping sun and dust off the face. However, those little net cocktail hats popular in the 1940s and 50s are strictly firtation devices and had no useful purpose whatsoever.

 

[lkranieri]

...thought it was about adding mystery...

...strictly firtation devices...

...and this was precisely what my friend proposed in response to the gentleman's question. In absence of any definitive answer (i.e., carved in stone somewhere), I will bow to your collective wisdom.

Amanda, I wore veils on my head, too, for church and I readily agree that that may have played a role here, too.

Many thanks!