Cloche Hat

Cloche hats became popular in the 1920’s, a decade after the first cloche was designed by Caroline Reboux (1908). This new simple hat style was the result of social economic shift during the war years, the new short bob hair styles allowed closer fitting hats, and the prohibition of selling bird plumage eliminated extravagant embellishments.

Ladies’ cloche hats are bell shape, hence the name, with deep crown with little or no brim. Cloche hats were made of wool felt with just a simple ribbon or leather trimming. Cloche hats were worn pulled in almost to the eyes to only show the cheeks and a few curls of hair.

Today’s cloche hats have more embellishments and made of a variety of materials for summer and winter wear.