This rounded hat is made of black satin. Its upper part is adorned with bows, each of which is decorated with flowers made of purple beads with a golden glass bead in the center. The bow on the side is attached to the hat with two decorative petals made of blue chenille and a clasp.

The frame of the hat is made of cardboard, cotton and wool. The fabric along the edges of the hat is folded. Inside the rim there is a cotton cord. All decorative elements of the hat are sewn through the lining with brown threads.

The history of the women’s hat began in the time of the Crusades: it was then that the eastern turbans and fezzes were brought to Europe and turned into a type of European headdress. At first, they were only worn by men, but the fashionistas of the 16th century quickly adopted small elegant hats along with berets.

The hat fad lasted almost a century until it gave way to caps and wigs, only to reappear in the 19th century. At the beginning of the century, they were large and richly decorated with flowers, feathers, and jewelry. In the second half of the century, though, their size and number of ornaments decreased significantly. In Russia, small-brimmed “windflower” hats became popular: they did not protect from the cold, but their edges covered the cheeks from the sun and prevented unwanted tanning.

In 19th century Russia, a woman’s hat became an integral part of her image; it showed that she belonged to the nobility, that a girl or lady had the appropriate education and knew the rules of etiquette. The ability to choose a suitable hat was highly appreciated when going to a ball, to the theater, on a visit, or for a walk. Ladies wearing headdresses that did not suit the situation caused disapproval and ridicule. It was considered indecent to appear on the street with your head uncovered.

By the early 20th century, hats had lost their practical value. Now they served only as decoration and fashion accessory, which had to match the outfit. Hats were decorated with flowers, feathers, ribbons, bows, frills, bands.