Login

Your Wardrobe Unlock'd

The Costume Maker's Companion, 1700-1920

Articles

Making a Close Bonnet of c.1810

Close bonnet of c.1810

The bonnet is the iconic accessory of the early nineteenth century: Serena shares how to construct a Close Bonnet of c.1810.

Register to read more...


Gravatar
bestinterests 12.12.2011 20:21  
Making a Close Bonnet of c.1810 Yes No  

How much variance was common for the bonnet during 1810-1813? The beautiful example seems quite a bit longer in the brim than the image, although the image is 1806.
Thank you for this example and looking forward to more!

 
   
       
Gravatar
sandij 13.12.2011 11:41  
Making a Close Bonnet of c.1810 Yes No  

I too have made one of these bonnets, using the bonnet in this image, and another with a rounded brim as inspiration.

The rows of diagonal piping and rounded brim are what I particularly liked, and I also took the back row of piping round to join at the back, leaving a circlular opening for the gathered back piece, as the images show.

 
   
       
Gravatar
serenadyer 17.12.2011 13:07  
Yes No  

There was a very extensive array of options available in early C19th headwear. There are examples of bonnets with both longer and shorter brims, with the brim extending around the back of the head (as in the fashion plate and Sandi's reproduction), with curved corners or with square and with a shaped brim rather than the rectangular method I used here.
Dating these variations, even with the aid of fashion plates, is difficult due to the individual approaches taken by milliners. The specific precedent for this bonnet is in a fashion plate dated 1810 which is in the collection of the Museum of London. Unfortunately I couldn't get copyright clearance to use it here.

My decision to make this bonnet the way I did arose from looking at a very wide variety of images, but I could have chosen any of these options!

 
   
       

Smileys

:confused: :cool: :cry: :laugh: :lol: :normal: :blush: :rolleyes: :sad: :shocked: :sick: :sleeping: :smile: :surprised: :tongue: :unsure: :whistle: :wink: 

  1000 Characters left

 
 
You are here: Home
Find us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Subscribe to us on YouTube

What people are saying

"Oh my goodness, only my first few weeks as a subscriber and I am wowed by the wealth of detailed content." - Natalie, Kentucky, USA

"What YWU is doing is extraordinary... Location and finances are no longer an obstacle to learning." - Charlene, Canada


"I just signed up for YWU and can't believe I waited so long. It's brilliant!"
- Richard, USA

Read more testimonials