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The Poke Bonnet craze of the 1850’s

Dorothy Catherine Draper wearing a bonnet decorated under the brim with pleats and flowers 1840

The Poke Bonnet

George P. A. Healy (American, 1813–1894). Euphemia White Van Rensselaer, 1842. Oil on canvas.

In the 1850’s, the “poke bonnet” hat reached a zenith in women’s fashion. A poke bonnet is a women’s bonnet (hat) in the shape of a hood, featuring a projecting rim on the front side, which would shade the face of the wearer, and a small crown at the back. Poke bonnets typically had a strap that allowed the hat to be tied under the chin. It was called a poke bonnet because there was room in the back of the hat that allowed all the woman’s hair to be “poked” inside of it.

Poke bonnets were created sometime around 1810 and came into fashion in the early 19th century. The poke bonnet was Victorian in style, a time when certain attitudes such as respectability, were fostered, particularly with regards to the behavior of women.

How a poke bonnet was worn

The poke bonnet fitted over the sides of the woman’s face and was intended to shield the wearer from the gaze of strangers (similar in principle to the veils worn in the Middle East). The size of the poke bonnet increased each year until it reached a point where the woman’s face could not be seen except from directly in front.

The poke bonnet fades into history

Poke Bonnet 1860's

As the size of the poke bonnet grew, the ridiculous nature of the hat became prominent in the public’s eye. The fashion faded around 1860 and the trend for hats began to lean towards smaller hat styles.

As explained in a late 1880’s Philadelphia history book:

The ladies have just now adopted a repulsive kind of hat, which may be called the “poking hat”. It has a long project, like the beak of a snipe, and is a good guard against all familiar approach of those who have any regard for their eyes. It is an invention inspired by the Goddem of Ugliness, and it is quite worthy of its origin. This head gear, called the “poke bonnet”, and in later years the “coal-scuttle bonnet”, could not withstand the ridicule constantly “poked” at it by the wits; besides, the ladies became convinced that it spoiled their good looks; it was given up. But, by a strange contradiction, the very homeliness which caused it to be discarded by the worldly, gave it favor in the eyes of the Quakers.

Fashion plate from Godey’s Lady’s Book, Philadelphia, April 1844

Image Credits

In-Article Image Credits

Dorothy Catherine Draper wearing a bonnet decorated under the brim with pleats and flowers 1840 via Bellatory by John William Draper; with usage type - Public Domain
Fashion plate from Godey’s Lady’s Book, Philadelphia, April 1844 via Mansion Musings with usage type - Public Domain
Poke Bonnet 1860's via Pinterest with usage type - Public Domain
George P. A. Healy (American, 1813–1894). Euphemia White Van Rensselaer, 1842. Oil on canvas. via The Met Museum with usage type - Public Domain

Featured Image Credit

Dorothy Catherine Draper wearing a bonnet decorated under the brim with pleats and flowers 1840 via Bellatory by John William Draper; with usage type - Public Domain

 

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