Those Beautiful Ohop Valley Women (ca. 1915)

I love this shot taken in the early 20th century. Pictured here are Hilda and Ester Faulk, Ella Ericksen, Anna Peterson (flat hat), Amelia Harstad, Mary Jacobson, Ida Anderson. They women and dressed up and ready for some occasion, although no one looks especially happy about it.

The hats back then were amazing. I’m sure they were a pain to wear, take care of, clean and store, but they were cool. Fashion Era says:

Lingerie hats made from muslin or froths of lace appeared about 1904 and were ideal for those able to idle away time in a perpetual summer whether abroad or at home.  They were perfect with lingerie dresses in fine white lawns and linens in white, ivory, cream or ecru.  

In Edwardian era. wearing white was a symbol of wealth, as whites needed laundering and laundry needed the efforts of maids who spent hours scrubbing out grass stains on soiled hems wear ladies had strolled lawns.  Lingerie dresses were in effect status symbols that made a statement. It visually told the onlooker that the wearer could afford to pay someone to launder their clothes.

However for more modest day wear and often in winter, the toque was a favorite choice for many women.  It was more and more acceptable to participate in sports, particularly bicycle riding. For these activities panamas, boaters, felt homburgs and sectioned pancake berets resting on a flat brim were all used for golf, motor cars and cycling.

Wider period hats in general became fashionable and were bedecked with an abundance of large cabbage rose, poppies or gerberas all overwhelming the crowns.   Every type of trim possible was used throughout the Edwardian era, from lace, to whole birds to bunches of cherries, blackberries to rosettes and ribbon streamers.

Photo courtesy of Linda Lewis.

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