III.

20th Century

Men's hat styles retained the basic forms of the 19th century, with the high silk hat reserved for only the most formal occasions. Until World War II (1939-1945), women's hat styles continued to change constantly, with the close-fitting cloche becoming a symbol of the 1920s “flapper” era. Generally, for both men and women, the increasing emphasis on informality and practicality, especially after World War II, caused a decline in hat wearing. In the 1970s and 1980s, however, a revival of interest in women's millinery set in.

See also Clothing; Hairdressing.