Hat stands: A thing of the past?

Hats used to be the biggest thing since sliced bread, so big in fact, that they weren’t just contained in pretty hat boxes. Actually, it was proper to have a hat rack waiting by the entrance of one’s home to hang their hat and coat when they arrived home. While hats still have their place in society, it has diminished greatly in the last 40 years to the point where finding a hat rack in someone’s home is a rarity.

Popularity of hats

Hats have been worn across the world over since the beginning of time for reasons ranging from protection while working, to religious submission or status. Either way, wearing a hat used to be a symbol of respect - a gentleman and a lady wore hats. Hats were popular in Edwardian times, particularly with women, who would wear outrageous headdresses to show off their fashion and taste. Hats were of such importance that by the 1920s, not having hat stands was considered rude and improper.

The hats decline

These days if one sees a hat being worn, it is either at a fancy function or British ceremony. While one used to be seen as rude, and was reprimanded for leaving the house with proper attire, nowadays you'd probably get a few stares for wearing a fancy hat casually. It used to be that women would spend copious amounts of time on their appearance, but by the 1950s and mid-60s, women were in the workforce and had little time to spend fluffing hair and choosing the perfect hat. Eventually, as it does, the fashion world changed and by the late 60s it became popular to wear wigs, not hats. The decline of the hat eventually made hat racks moot.

Modern hat rack ideas

Hat racks and hat storage can still be very chic, especially for those who fancy an antique or vintage style. Those with shabby chic tastes do well to buy an embellished hat stand, paint it white, and distress it with sandpaper. After it is complete, hang vintage hats on it. This makes a great focal piece, and is pretty too. Hat racks can also be hung with jackets, baseball caps, dresses, scarves, or even purses for those with a large collection.