1920s Women's Headwear

Varieties of cloches from c. 1925 – 1927.Cloche meant “bell” in French.

Even with the popularity of the cloche, other types of brimmedhats were still worn, and even western –style hats, as in moviestill on lower right.

In 1928 the cloche got very deep/elongated, as can be seen inthe lower row of hats. Upperrow is probably form earlierthan 1928, or more conservativein cut.

In 1929/1930, the “helmetcloche” became popular –forehead revealed and backof neck covered.

For evening wear, women in the1910s and early to mid 1920ssometimes wore exotic headpiecesthat wereeither a hold-over from ArtNouveau or had Eqyptian motifs.These styles were usually wornwith long hair done up in anelaborate hairdo.

All these headpieces and turban are from movies, movie stills, and one commercial photo.Actress Fredi Washington’s character is supposed to be fainting in the movie scene lower right, thus the pained expression.

Examples of headbands & tiaras (metal, rhinestones, pearls, etc). In the 1920s these were more typically worn back on the head, rather than overthe brow like a hippy headband as in many of today’s flapper costumes (see photo bottom right). The over-the-brow style was a hold-over fromthe 1910s, but was still sometimes done with the fastening fairly low in the back, as in the photo on the upper left (c. 1920-24). The beadedbrocade headband with long white feather (bottom row) probably dates from c.1910-1924, as it is sized to fit over long hair.

More headbands: these weregenerally worn low on backof the head. Scarves weresometimes over the brow ontop of the hair or bangs, andsometimes above the hairline. Thefirst three photos are from c.1920..Note: above Delores del Riois wearing her longish hairdown, in Hollywood’s“exotic” Mexican style.

Beaded and sequinned evening caps were popular in the second half of the decade. The hat on the top left is from the first half of the decade.