Women's hats and bonnets in the Regency era (1810-1820) served important social functions beyond fashion. They indicated a woman's marital status and economic class, with more elaborate hats worn by housekeepers and simpler styles by scullery maids. Common styles included capote and poke bonnets, with narrow brims and soft, fitted crowns. Hats and bonnets came in various colors and designs and their styles evolved over time, making them a key part of women's fashion and a symbol of their social standing during this period.

1. Women’s hats in the regency era
(1810-1820)

2. Fashion in the period 1810-1820
Women’s fashion in the period 1810-1820 , or regency
style fashion adds elegance and lightness. At 1810
the fashion started to change drastically. Hats and
bonnets were an integral and very important part of
the fashion of that time. They denoted one’s marital
state, as well as fashion sense and class and
economic status. A housekeeper, for example, would
were a more elaborate hat or bonnet than a scullery
maid. Hats were also worn as a sign of respect ,
inside a church.

3. Hats vs Bonnets
The definitions of these two are:
Hat: “ a covering for the head usually having a
shaped crown and brim”.
Bonnet: “ a cloth or straw hat tied under the
chin and worn by women and children”.
In reality it is not at all easy to distinguish them
because we usually observe a combination of
features of both.

4. A hat
A bonnet

5. Different types of Bonnets
Capotes or scoop-shaped bonnets: were
popular in the early regency. The brims were always
narrow and made of stiffly reinforced fabric, and
merged smoothly into the crowns, which were soft
and shaped to fit the head.

6. CAPOTE

7. Poke bonnet: was an evolution of the capote.
Poke bonnets were narrow-brimmed insofar
as the diameter of the brim.

8. All in all there were hats in wonderful colors and
designs wish as the fashion changed and their
lengths and designs evolved.