Name/Title
Coffee Pink Cloche Gabardine HatEntry/Object ID
2024.C.28.06Description
Coffee pink gabardine cloche with a double strip of fabric down the center and additional strips down the sides in two directions. Narrow stiff brownish gold braiding in a stipple pattern in an X pattern at the top. Flowers of the same material in front in the matching color, green, deep peach bluegrey. Two leaves, on at top and one on the right side. Brim is the matching material as the stippling in 12/13 rows. Inner brim is lined with matching silk that has totally deteriorated and shredded. Lining is green satin. Label: The Blue Heron Hat with a heron flying above the name. PARIS NEW YORK / FRONT with an arrow.
Fashion Archives: A Look at the History of the Cloche Hat
While it is a defining fashion icon of the 1920’s, this stretch of time is only the height of its popularity. Its history stretches back to the turn of the century when it was first created- 1908 to be exact. The design was invented by French milliner Caroline Reboux: a small bell-shaped hat that was easy to form, and simple enough that it could be embellished and styled in a number of ways. The accessory was aptly named, as cloche,” the French word for bell.
Typically, these hats were made of felt, sisal or straw, and worn plain to show off the shape of a hat that was very well made. In the early years...
The 1920’s version of the cloche is iconic. It featured an even more snug fit than its predecessors, and worn so low over the eyebrows that women walked with their chins up and eyes cast down. Fortunately, walking with this kind of poise only added to the allure of the look, as women felt it created an air of confidence and independence in the wearer. During this decade, no woman ever left the house without a chic cloche to top off her look.
As cloche styles began to grow and change, embellishment began to feature more heavily in the design. Art deco was a heavy influence in all aspects of 1920’s fashion, and hats were no exception. The art style impacted the brim and seam styles of cloche hats, as well as what decorated it. Applique, beads, brooches or feathers were popular, and helped to dress up a hate for more formal occasions. Some versions were made from laces and silks to add glamour, and could be paired with a fancy evening ensemble.
Many women even wore embellished cloches as a part of their wedding finery. As embellishments gained popularity, they began to signal various meanings, similar to the symbolization of today's Claddagh rings. For example, an arrow-like ribbon on a cloche meant the wearer was single but had already given her heart to someone, while an elaborate bow signaled that she was single and looking.
The cloche craze continued into the 1930’s. Couture houses such as Lanvin and Molyneau partnered with milliners in their ateliers to integrate the hats into their collections. The accessory could even be spotted on the big screen, being sported by film stars of the era. Swedish actress Greta Garbo helped boost cloche sales while wearing one in her first “talkie” film ‘Anna Christie.’
https://startupfashion.com/fashion-archives-history-cloche-hat/Collection
Bodnar/Morgan CollectionDimensions
Width
7-1/2 inDepth
6-1/2 inLength
9 inDimension Notes
Frame Size: 14.75" x 13" x .75"
Image Size: 11" x 8.75" mat openingAccessories
Notes
Frame: .5" dark wood with a rounded edge and trim inside that indents on the outer edge.Relationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Morgan, Lucille Galloway
