"…busy decorating
bonnets. As ribbons and flowers were no longer available in the stores, she used berries, walnut shells, gum balls, dried
flowers, small palmetto leaves and scraps of material for the bows." 1862 Seven Pines: Its Occupants and Their Letters,
1825-1872.
Your headwear should be of the same style as your
clothes. It should also be appropriate for your activity.
Slat bonnet
Sunbonnet In Texas, a sunbonnet will be used often. It is
not something you find frequently in fashion plates. A sunbonnet protects you from the sun and keeps the wind off of your
ears, although it can be warm. Sunbonnets can be plain, corded, or slat. Utilitarian sunbonnets, like those worn while working
outside, tended to be of a cotton fabric with little decoration. These may also be the only type of headwear of a lower class
or late war impression.
Fancier sunbonnets
Fancier sunbonnets, which may be worn on errands
or even to church, can be made of silk with fancier brims, even of sheer cotton and would be worn by the middle class. Civil
War era sunbonnets tended to have a "skirt" that came down to below the shoulder line. Sunbonnets were worn in Texas
well into the 20th century.
Straw bonnet
Drawn bonnet
Bonnet trims
Dress Bonnet A dress bonnet is not something a lower class impression
would wear. This type of headwear would be worn by the middle and upper classes. Dress bonnets are generally made from silk
or straw and can also be sheer. Decorations include fabric trims, lace, ribbon, silk flowers, feathers, grasses and tassels.
A dress bonnet is not intended as protection for the sun, weather, or the cold. The shape of dress bonnets changed over the
war years. The style of your dress bonnet will depend on the year you are interpreting and your impression. A late war portrayal
may continue to have an earlier style of bonnet with less decoration or appear a little worn. If your impression is that of
a respectable middle class woman, your bonnet may not be as fancy or as stylish as an upper class impression.
Godey's July 1862
Hats Generally worn by teens and younger women, hats were considered informal
headwear. Hats were worn be older women but in informal settings such as in the country, at the seaside or a spa, while riding,
or other informal occasions that would required some kind of headwear but not so fancy as a dress bonnet. Lower class and
older middle class impressions would probably not call for a hat as they did not generally have the free time to participate
in the activities where a hat would be acceptable. Teens or young women with middle and upper class impressions would find
much use for a hat as they would frequently meet friends in informal settings. An older upper class impression may also have
occasion to have a hat; however, take into consideration your activity—are you attending a picnic or a formal tea? Are
you in town or in the country? Are you paying a formal call or an informal visit with a close friend?
Day cap
Caps If you are portraying middle or upper class you might consider a day
cap which is a little head covering trimmed in lace and/or ribbons; these were more typical with older ladies. They are not
a substitute for a bonnet but are worn at home.
Breakfast cap
A breakfast cap can also worn at home by middle
and upper class impressions; however, as the name implies it is not a cap to be worn throughout the day like a day cap but
rather to the breakfast table while in your wrapper or if you are indisposed in your bedroom. The breakfast cap is generally
larger than the day cap so that it can cover your whole head and not just the top.
Hair nets Not the snoods sold by some sutlers. Meant to be worn over dressed
hair, these nets are finer and more embellished. Hair nets were worn by all ages of women, in different situations from daily
wear at home to balls.
