The History of the Iconic Cloche Hat: Making 1920s Fashion

The cloche is one of the most distinct fashions of the 1920s, both in history and in modern media representations. Though it wasn't the only era when close fitted hats were all the rage, it has come to be an immediate reference to the era of the Flapper.

But what is the true history of this iconic accessory? When did it come in to style and what prompted its invention? What lead to its demise? And most importantly- what IS a cloche hat?

Turns out the general answer is hair styles. The cloche came into popularity as it worked with new and modern styles like the Bob and Shingle, while also supporting the active lifestyle of women in the era. Thus the cloche style- snugly fitted around the head without a great deal of weight or size- was the popular option until hair styles began to shift again. In reality it had an extremely long life as far as fashion goes.

One article noted that French women had been wearing them for so long the old adage of women constantly changing was beginning to be questioned in regards to the current generations.

As always though, the best way to understand a long lost fashion is to recreate it and test it out. So I made three different styles of hats, all with the same cloche shaped crown, to wear on an upcoming month long trip.