Women's Hat Etiquette

The Fair Hat —  Etiquette has not yet asked ladies to tip those dainty little creations, all lace and feathers, nor yet the towering flower gardens that are the bane of our theaters. The hat that girls tip is a special headgear, warranted to be put on and taken off easily, and to stand wear and tear. 

Ladies Now Tipping Hats

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It is the fashion now for girls to tip their hats by way of salutation. The New York damsels were the first who had the courage to expose their precious bangs to tbe elements whenever they met a friend, then the Chicago girls followed their example, but the fashion was started on the Pacific coast, and the hats that are worn to be tipped by ladies, are the invention of a San Francisco firm and Los Angeles milliners are now busy trimming them for the many purchasers.

Etiquette has not yet asked ladies to tip those dainty little creations, all lace and feathers, nor yet the towering flower gardens that are the bane of our theaters. The hat that girls tip is a special headgear, warranted to be put on and taken off easily, and to stand wear and tear. It was patented by a San Francisco firm, so that for once we can claim the glory of having dictated fashion to the effete east. Untrimmed, the hat looks a sort of cross between a cook's cap, dyed black  and a man-of-wars-man's hat. It is only when examined conscientiously that its entire originality is discovered. 

Upon a circular band of straw, an inch and a half in depth, is posed a plate of fine chip straw about 10 inches in diameter. The front of the band is pleasingly ornamented with a strong peak of glased leather, which can be firmly grasped and used to raise the hat, without any injury to the entire construction. The hat has quite a rakish appearance when trimmed. This is usually done by encircling the band of straw with ribbon and velvet and gracefully tilting up one side of the brim, with flowers or a plume of feathers. It is called “The Fair Hat,” and predominates at the World's Fair. 

The hats are in two styles, trimmed and plain, and are so arranged, that they may be doffed at will. As yet they are new in Los Angeles, but before many days days it is safe to predict they will be seen in great numbers along the public thoroughfares. It will now be the proper thing when a young lady meets a gentleman friend to return his “doff.” Several of the society girls are practicing in private that they may perform the feat in public with proper grace. — Los Angeles Herald, 1893

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia