Bonnet

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

During the early 1870s, hats framed the face and were small in order to create balance in response to the larger bustle silhouette and chignon hairstyles. This form added height to the wearer without creating additional bulk to distract from the overall effect. The flowers here are particularly dense and beautifully made, further exemplifying the quality of this hat.

The Costume Institute

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Costume Institute's collection of more than thirty-three thousand objects represents seven centuries of fashionable dress and accessories for men, women, and children, from the fifteenth century to the present.

Metropolitan Museum of Art