The woman above portrays the dress of a traveler.  Her hat matches her dress and complements her beauty.  Women also wore hats because of the type of architecture that was seen in the nineteenth century.  The buildings went up instead of out.  If your neighbor  above  threw their bed pan out the window you would get their excrement on top of your head.  The invention of the hat permitted this from happening.  The men would also walk on the outside when walking down the street to be a gentlemen.  If the accident did occur  the lady would not get drenched with the awful excrement.

Look at all the different types of hats shown on the right.  They are all unique in their own way. 

        France had a big influence on the Western fashions.  Ladies wore short- trimmed jackets ending at their waistline.  Shawls hung at their waist, colors accentuated their dress. Their gowns were a light material and mostly light pastel colors.  They wore low neck lines usually edged with a frill or a lace.  Ladies wore hair styles based on the fashions of the Ancient Greek and Roman time periods.  They wore flowers or hats complementing their dress. The hats were tall with flowers or bows or even a Vandyke ruff or lace or Elizabethan wings. Vandyke ruff originated from the Elizabethan period.  The purse, the new style of fashion that started in the 19th century, was very popular. Umbrellas were also a common trend.

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