Sarah Brown
Mushroom hats have been a popular fashion accessory for over a century, with the design first becoming popular in 1907. They are wide-brimmed hats that can be made from a variety of materials, including straw, felt, silk, and velour. The design is often decorated with ornate trimmings such as ribbons, feathers, and veils. Mushroom hats have been featured in the fashion collections of many notable designers, including Dior, Balmain, and Balenciaga, and have been worn by royalty, including Princess Mary and the Duchess of York. The design has also inspired more modern interpretations, such as foam mushroom hats that are often used as party accessories.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Period of popularity | 1907, 1909, 1915, 1920s, 1947, 1950s, early 1960s |
| Materials | Straw, felt, stiffened silk, velour, velvet, foam |
| Ornamentation | Ostrich feathers, veils, ribbon, flowers, organdy |
| Designers/Makers | Selfridge & Co, Dickins & Jones, Dior, Harvey Nichols, Balmain, Rose Vernier, Balenciaga, Ricci |
| Use cases | Fashion accessory, party accessory, costume, everyday wear |
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What You'll Learn
Mushroom hats as fashion accessories
Mushroom hats have been popular fashion accessories for over a century. In 1907, mushroom hats in straw and felt became popular, with Selfridge & Co offering a mushroom brim hat decorated with ostrich feathers. The mushroom hat remained fashionable throughout the 1920s, with Princess Mary choosing a mushroom-shaped hat for the opening day of Ascot in 1920.
The design lends itself to ornate decorations, including ribbon and feather trims and veils. It can be made in a variety of materials, including straw, felt, stiffened silk, velour, and foam. The shape of the mushroom hat can vary, from almost brimless to wide-brimmed, and it can be adapted to suit different occasions, from formal events like Ascot to more casual settings like parties.
In 1947, Dior featured a new variety of mushroom hat, also known as the dish hat, at their first fashion show. This hat balanced a neat jacket with a full skirt, marking a new era of lavishness in fabric and silhouette. The mushroom hat continued to evolve, with designers like Balmain offering side-swept variations in the 1950s. By the 1960s, Balenciaga had introduced extreme saucer-shaped versions, while Ricci showcased high-crowned mushroom hats.
Today, mushroom hats remain a fun and quirky accessory, with companies like Foam Party Hats offering mushroom-shaped party hats for adults and children. Whether made of foam, cotton, or more luxurious fabrics, the mushroom hat continues to be a versatile and creative fashion statement.
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Mushroom hats for children
The design of mushroom hats for children often features a bucket-like shape, with a downward-curved brim that can be tilted upwards on one side for a playful look. They can be made from various materials, including foam, cotton, and plush fabrics, ensuring comfort and durability. These hats can be decorated with ribbons, feathers, and veils, adding to their charm and making them excellent props for imaginative play and make-believe.
Mushroom hats have a long history in the fashion world, dating back to the early 20th century. They first became popular in 1907, with both straw and felt versions taking the market by storm. Despite initial criticism from some fashion editors, the style persisted and evolved. By the 1920s, mushroom hats were a staple, with prominent figures like Princess Mary and the Duchess of York sporting them at Ascot.
Over the years, mushroom hats have been adapted and reimagined by renowned fashion houses such as Dior, Balmain, and Balenciaga. These designers have played with proportions and fabrics, creating everything from side-swept triangular profiles to extreme saucer-shaped versions in velvet. The versatility of the mushroom hat has kept it relevant, with variations appearing on runways and in editorial spreads even today.
Whether purchased ready-made or handmade with love, mushroom hats for children are a delightful addition to any wardrobe. They offer a unique blend of fashion, playfulness, and creativity, making them a versatile accessory that can be enjoyed in a variety of settings. So, whether it's a birthday party, a holiday celebration, or simply a sunny day, mushroom hats are sure to bring a smile to children's faces and spark their imagination.
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Mushroom hats for parties
Mushroom hats have been in fashion since the early 20th century, with the design evolving over the years. They are a fun and quirky addition to any party outfit and can be made from a variety of materials, such as straw, felt, silk, or foam.
For children, mushroom hats are a cute and whimsical accessory, adding a touch of magic to their everyday adventures and making them perfect for parties. They can be made from soft and comfortable materials like cotton, with an elastic chin strap to ensure a secure fit during play.
For adults, mushroom hats can be a unique and playful statement piece at parties. They can be made from foam, which is a lightweight and durable material that can be custom-made and decorated to suit the wearer's style. These hats can be designed in various colours, shapes, and sizes, and can even be tailored to specific themes, such as a birthday or wedding party.
The versatility of mushroom hats extends to different seasons and occasions. For example, a straw mushroom hat is ideal for summer parties, while a felt or silk variation is more suitable for winter events. The hat's shape can also be modified, ranging from wide-brimmed designs that offer sun protection to snug-fitting cloche styles.
Whether it's a children's party or an adult celebration, mushroom hats are a unique and entertaining accessory that can elevate the mood and create lasting memories. So, the next time you're planning a party, consider adding a touch of whimsy with mushroom hats and let your guests embrace their playful side.
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Mushroom hats as costumes
Mushroom hats have been popular as fashion accessories since the early 20th century, with the design evolving over time. They can be made from various materials, such as straw, felt, stiffened silk, and foam, and are often decorated with ribbons, feathers, and veils. While mushroom hats were once a fashionable choice for adults, they are now more commonly associated with costumes and parties, especially for children.
For children, mushroom hats can transform them into little fairies or gnomes, roaming and rolling in an enchanted forest. The elastic chin strap on some mushroom hats ensures a secure fit, so children can play and explore without worry. These hats are perfect for Halloween or any day when a little extra magic is needed.
Mushroom hats can also be a unique and memorable addition to adult costumes. They can be paired with a simple outfit to create a fun and quirky look, or they can be part of a more elaborate costume, such as a fairy, gnome, or mushroom character. For adults who want to join in the fun, matching mushroom hats can be a great way to add levity to a celebration, such as a wedding or birthday party.
Overall, mushroom hats as costumes offer a versatile and imaginative option for anyone looking to add a touch of whimsy to their wardrobe. Whether for a themed party, a fun photoshoot, or everyday magical outings, mushroom hats are a unique and memorable choice.
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History of mushroom hats
Mushroom hats, named for their shape, first became popular in the 1870s. By the 1900s, mushroom hats in straw and felt had become ubiquitous. In 1907, Evelyn Sharp wrote a scathing editorial in The Guardian, lambasting the trend:
> "For about six months have we endured the sight of mushroom shapes in every kind of straw trimmed with a fringed silk scarf. I suppose there was some attraction in the mushroom hat when it was first designed, and I can still see its charms when it is very small and very flexible....worn by somebody in a motor car. But this autumnal growth of felt fungi deserves nothing but condemnation."
However, the popularity of mushroom hats persisted. In 1909, a full-page advertisement in The Times described a mushroom brim hat decorated with ostrich feathers. That same year, Dickins & Jones offered a mushroom hat trimmed with wide velvet ribbon and a large posy of flowers.
Mushroom hats continued to be popular throughout the 1920s, with Princess Mary choosing a mushroom hat with a blue lace-covered brim for the opening day of Ascot in 1920. In 1925, the Duchess of York wore a mushroom hat trimmed with vivid orange osprey feathers for Ascot's Ladies' Day race meeting. A fashion editorial of 1921 praised the value of wider-brimmed models, noting that they provided "adequate protection" from the sun. The hat design lent itself to ornate decorations, including ribbon, feather trims, and veils. It could be made in a variety of materials, from straw for summer to felt or stiffened silk for winter.
In 1947, Christian Dior introduced a new variation of the mushroom hat, known as the dish hat, at his first fashion show. The wide-brimmed silhouette of the hat balanced the nipped waist and full skirt of Dior's designs. Wide-brimmed mushroom hats remained popular throughout the 1950s and early '60s, with designers like Balmain offering their own adaptations. By the end of the 1960s, mushroom hats had evolved into a more bucket-like style.
Today, mushroom hats continue to be popular, with some even being made from real mushrooms. Amadou mushroom hats are crafted from dried and pressed mushrooms, resulting in a stylish and unique alternative to leather.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushroom hats are headwear designed to resemble mushrooms. They can be made from various materials, including straw, felt, stiffened silk, foam, and cotton.
Mushroom hats first became popular in the early 20th century, with variations in brim width and ornamentation gaining traction over time. They experienced a resurgence in the 1950s and early '60s, with designers like Dior, Balmain, and Ricci incorporating the shape into their collections.
Mushroom hats have been worn by both adults and children. They were particularly fashionable among women in the early 20th century, with Princess Mary and the Duchess of York donning them for Ascot in the 1920s. More recently, mushroom hats have been marketed as whimsical party accessories for all ages.
Mushroom hats are available from various retailers, including Foam Party Hats, oeufnyc, and Rose Vernier millinery at Ascot.
Mushroom hats can be worn for parties, but they have also been worn in other contexts, such as at Ascot and for everyday outings with a whimsical touch. Additionally, some mushroom hats are designed as children's costumes, suitable for everyday wear and occasions like Halloween.
