Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Vintage Church Hats



When I was a young girl....we wore hats every Sunday to church.
By the time I was a teenager...hat wearing to church was out of style.
But my grandmothers always wore a hat on Sunday.



Many times these pretty church hats were little works of art.
Now, so many of us collect old hats for the fabulous flowers...
... to use in all sorts of creative art projects...



Whenever I am out thrifting or at the flea market I am drawn to these fashion accessories of the past...
I am not sure if it is the pretty feminine flowers or fruits that are affixed to them or if it is the feeling of nostalgia that I get when I see them...



These two beauties were at the flea market last weekend.
I don't really need any more hats...I have plenty.
But these two lovelies had me pause and ask the price.
Big mistake.
Really cheap.

The seller told me a story about them being in the attic of a house that had been in the same family for generations. (OK, if you say so....)
The seller bought the contents of the family home....and now he was selling these hats here at the flea market.

I couldn't walk away...they were both in remarkable shape...
...they were so pretty...look at that blue...
...look at all those tiny flowers and that rich purple velvet!

I simply couldn't leave them sitting there in that dusty old hatbox.



...which, by the way was included in the really cheap price.

Sigh. I'm hopeless.

Happy 64th Wedding Anniversary to Mr. Flea's wonderful parents!

Have a restful night and gee, I can't believe it's almost Thursday!
:)
at

34 comments:

  1. AnonymousApril 21, 2010 at 9:21 PM

    Hi Laura,
    Those hats are beautiful and the hat box is fabulous!! What a great find, and for a great price. I have only one vintage hat that is covered with beautiful shades of light and hot pink flowers. I love it and have never found another one that struck me the way this one did when I found it.
    Lovely post!
    Have a great day.
    Sincerely,
    Melinda

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  2. GailApril 21, 2010 at 9:31 PM

    FABULOUS! And what an enchanting hatbox that came with them, I surely would have scooped them up as well!!!

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  3. Anita DiazApril 21, 2010 at 9:31 PM

    Oh I LOVE hats!! I wore lots of them when Princess Diana got married, then not so much since then. I have some vintage hats of my grandmother's and two of her hatboxes that I treasure. Love this post!!

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  4. Laura Quaglia (Fun With This and That)April 21, 2010 at 9:43 PM

    I to love hats. I have the same hat box.Your post is so nice.laura Q

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  5. Beach House LivingApril 21, 2010 at 10:00 PM

    Sunday church was like a fashion show for hats without having to travel far from home. Those appear to be in wonderful condition and well the box is the cherry on the cake.

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  6. Rose Garden RomanticApril 21, 2010 at 10:14 PM

    Lovely hats! My mom always wore them when she was younger, too. Boy does she wish she had kept them all! She always tells me about the fabulous outfits she used to wear including gloves and hats. I wish she had photos of her in those fun outfits.
    Michelle

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  7. AnnesphamilyApril 21, 2010 at 10:16 PM

    I love these hats, brings back so many nice memories for me! I love the hat boxes! Classic! Anne

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  8. LisaApril 21, 2010 at 10:40 PM

    Really great hats and box! How very fun Hats are! I sometimes wish we still dressed like that!
    Hugs, Lisa

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  9. The Decorating DiariesApril 21, 2010 at 10:43 PM

    I love hats, too. And those are so sweet. I just posted about a hat I had to bring home with me.

    Janet

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  10. Rust: Vintage Inspired DesignApril 21, 2010 at 11:30 PM

    I, too, love old hats and have a bunch that my grandma used to wear. That hat box is awesome!
    xojanis

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  11. BettyannApril 22, 2010 at 12:08 AM

    Love the hats and hat box..I have my Mom's hat box from NY from the 40's..just adore it...the hats are so cute..

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  12. Linda @ Itsy Bits And PiecesApril 22, 2010 at 12:27 AM

    Laura~ charming hats~ I just love millinery flowers! And the hat box is wonderful! I would have bought them, too!

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  13. Andy's AtticApril 22, 2010 at 12:27 AM

    First, the silver 52 Flea trophy is super! The church hats...well, I wore them every Sunday into highschool age. The blue one is so pretty and the hat box is dreamy, too.
    Annette

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  14. @nneApril 22, 2010 at 12:54 AM

    Really like them ... and the hatbox as well. Sincerely, @nne

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  15. BeccaApril 22, 2010 at 12:55 AM

    Love, love, love the bluish, purple colors and even the styles with flowers makes me kind of wish church hats were back!

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  16. UnknownApril 22, 2010 at 2:30 AM

    The hats and box are gorgeous !
    Definitely would bought them myself !
    have a nice day !
    greetings

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  17. UnknownApril 22, 2010 at 3:20 AM

    zijn donderdag al ;).... tijd vliegt tijdens het winkelen * grijns *!
    Dont je soms willen dat het was weer in STIJL ....... dames leek dames ;)....
    Ik denk dat we zullen meer van uw mooie hoeden te zien?? ;)

    Greetinds
    Lynda

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  18. It's meApril 22, 2010 at 4:55 AM

    I really like them !! ....they are fab !!!!

    Congratulations with the 64th Wedding Anniversary to Mr. Flea's parents !!!!!

    Happy happy day...........hugs from me.....

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  19. CocoApril 22, 2010 at 5:03 AM

    C' est vraiment une jolie trouvaille ces deux chapeaux, j'aurais adoré porter de si joli choses...
    Amicalement Coco

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  20. Jacqueline @ HOMEApril 22, 2010 at 5:55 AM

    Dear Laura,
    It's such a shame that old habits and traditions die out, isn't it ? I remember when we were little, going to church and wearing white gloves and having lily-of-the-valley pinned to our coat, or whatever flower was in season.
    I'm glad that you bought the hats. They couldn't have gone to a better home and, if the original owner is looking down on you, I'm sure that she would be pleased as well ! I think that the hatbox was a wonderful bonus too.
    You are the best at thrifting, Laura. I think that you deserve a degree in it !!!! XXXX

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  21. Sandi~A Cottage MuseApril 22, 2010 at 6:09 AM

    Beautiful hats in a beautiful box with a story...priceless!!

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  22. cheryl kuhnApril 22, 2010 at 7:21 AM

    Oooh, I think the hat box was the great find!! It is beautiful as are the hats, lucky you to find a treasure like that!

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  23. LululizApril 22, 2010 at 8:01 AM

    Wonderful find, the hats are gorgeous, I love the one with the tiny white flowers.

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  24. Gracie's CottageApril 22, 2010 at 8:06 AM

    Love the box and the beautiful bits of springtime inside!

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  25. Zita - Mlle MagpieApril 22, 2010 at 8:08 AM

    The hats and the hatbox are just wonderful, Laura. When the price is so low, it's like you don't have a choice but to go home with them - it's just meant to be!

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  26. OlgaApril 22, 2010 at 10:30 AM

    PRECIOSAS Compras Laura! felicidades y un Tus padres ..
    un abrazo, Olga

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  27. DebbyApril 22, 2010 at 11:58 AM

    I love your hats, so special. I just picked up the exact same hat box at a sale on Sunday, it is exactly the same, going to blog about it later.
    Debby

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  28. AnonymousApril 22, 2010 at 12:53 PM

    The hats are beautiful, laura. And I love the case they came in. The whole set gives me "warm fuzzies". I can see why you couldn't pass them up.

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  29. RosemaryApril 22, 2010 at 2:21 PM

    So cute! I remember wearing church hats and white gloves every Sunday. I know exactly what you are talking about. Remember when you could start wearing pants to church, that was big.
    Have a wonderful day my friend,
    Rosemary

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  30. BeatnheartApril 23, 2010 at 12:41 AM

    the hats are sweet...the hatbox, now that is a prize..

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  31. Julia @ Vintage with LacesApril 23, 2010 at 10:43 AM

    Hi Laura, These are beautiful hats and the box is so pretty as well. No wonder that you couldn't resist!
    Hugs,
    Julia

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  32. JillApril 24, 2010 at 9:36 AM

    The hat box is even better than the hats! I love it!

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  33. AliciaApril 24, 2010 at 3:15 PM

    ME PARECE TODO PRECIOSO...NO SE QUE ME GUSTA MAS.
    UN SALUDO.

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  34. RedJuly 20, 2010 at 10:38 PM

    I feel the same way about hankies...but love the hats!

    ReplyDelete

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