ENCHANTING 1940's CHOCOLATE BROWN FELT WIDE BRIM HAT

This is an amazing wide brim hat with a unique shape. The hat is made of beautiful chocolate brown felt. The crown is conical, tilts towards the front, and is indented at the top. The partial, upturned wide brim is shaped into a square at the front, and it ends at the sides in a fold. There is also a bow at the center where the crown meets the brim. Spectacular! The wartime 40’s saw a huge variety of hats that were suitable for any face shape, hairstyle or personal preference. Throughout the war & on both sides of the Atlantic, elaborate creations brightened dreary utility fashions, brought about by rationing. The only items not rationed were hat materials. Label:NEW YORK CREATION plus store label: AUSTELLE HATS - Fashion Right The New York Dress Institute was formed in 1941 by fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert as a joint venture between the clothing manufacturers of New York City & the ILGWU. The label was created by a group of well-known designers who wanted to remain anonymous & wanted to support the New York Creation label & keep it competitive with French styles of the era. The label is small, white and blue & most of the time it states the hat size…22 or 23, or ADJUSTABLE. This is an authentic piece of fashion history! This hat is in wonderful vintage condition & has been lovingly preserved among over 1300 vintage hats we have collected for 40+ years. Feathers, straw, flowers & veils are fragile, given their age. Mannequin not for sale.