Bumper brim
![](/w/images/thumb/6/65/Alexandra_de_Luxembourg_-_cropped.jpg/180px-Alexandra_de_Luxembourg_-_cropped.jpg)
A bumper brim is a millinery feature in which the hat brim is tubular in design, making it a prominent feature of the hat. In order to achieve this effect, the brim may be rolled, stiffened or padded. A bumper brim can be added to a variety of hat designs, from small to large.[1]
Contents
History of the design
![](/w/images/thumb/d/d1/StateLibQld_1_194339_Woman_attending_the_Ascot_Races_in_Brisbane%2C_1939_cropped.jpg/160px-StateLibQld_1_194339_Woman_attending_the_Ascot_Races_in_Brisbane%2C_1939_cropped.jpg)
The bumper brim was popular during the 1930s, when it was added to small hats, usually these were tilted well forward on the face.[2] It could be incorporated into hats made of a variety of materials; a 1937 article in The Times describes a new trend in London for small summertime bumper brim hats, designed for street rather than beach wear, made of straw, grosgrain or felt.[3]
In the same year, a Virginia Gardner article in the Chicago Tribune reported on key trends from Chicago designers and highlighted the bumper brim as the major innovation of the season. "'The new muffin hat', a buyer explained. 'It is exceeded in importance only by the new bumper brim'."[4]
Bumper-brimmed designs also featured in the 1940s, when they were often worn well back on the head – often in the style of a halo hat – in order to frame the face.[5] Millinery editor of Women's Wear Daily Maud G. Moody attended a 1946 fashion show in New York held by representatives of the French millinery industry – including Elsa Schiaparelli and Rose Descat – and described the most notable designs as including beret-type hats with bumper brims. She also highlighted a wide-brimmed padre hat, combining red crown with navy-blue bumper brim.[6]
In the 1950s, hats with bumper brims were often worn square on, creating a wider profile.[1]
Notable bumper brim hats
![](/w/images/thumb/6/63/Queen_Beatrix_of_the_Netherlands_cropped.jpeg/160px-Queen_Beatrix_of_the_Netherlands_cropped.jpeg)
Hillary Clinton wore a blue velour rolled-brim hat at Bill Clinton's 1993 Presidential Inauguration. The design, which was by Connecticut milliner Darcy Creech, attracted criticism.[7] A New York Times article reported it was considered unflattering by fashion critics and some commentators considered it inappropriate to wear a hat once her jacket had been removed.[8] An article originally published in The Times ahead of the 2009 inauguration of Barack Obama provided a run-through of previous fashion hits and misses among first ladies and noted that Hillary Clinton's headgear had become known as the "Oh-God-What-is-That? Hat".[9]
Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands favours a bumper-brim style, wearing a blue version during a 2013 visit to Amsterdam with President Putin. She also wore a distinctive multiple-rimmed bumper design in black straw for the memorial service to Richard von Weizsaecker in February 2015.[10]
![](/w/images/thumb/2/23/Clinton_Inaugural_Parade.jpg/200px-Clinton_Inaugural_Parade.jpg)
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.