How To Decorate An Edwardian Hat

Do you want to know how to decorate an Edwardian hat? Here I decorated an Edwardian-style straw boater hat with cotton bobbinet tulle, a cotton tulle lace hat veil and DIY real silk roses.

Materials For My Edwardian Hat

I used the following materials to decorate my Edwardian hat:

Edwardian-style straw boater hat
cream cotton bobbinet tulle fabric
cream cotton tulle lace
DIY real silk ribbon roses – click the link below to see how I made the roses

Related: How To Make Edwardian Silk Roses

Edwardian Hat Veil

A popular feature of Edwardian hats was a veil that covered the face. This face veil was used as a beautifier and to protect the face from the sun.

Related: 5-Step Edwardian Nighttime Skincare Routine

‘The veil distinctly lends enchantment to the view by “half-revealing, half-conceiling” the face underneath.’ (Evening Star, 1906) ‘The friendly little bit of nothing hides behind its meshy formation every speckle, freckle and imperfection of the complexion. They are not veils; they are beautifiers’ (The Courier, 1901).

Edwardian hat veils were made of silk chiffon, cotton bobbinet tulle or real lace like Chantilly lace. While silk chiffon veils were used for everyday wear and motoring, lace veils were used for afternoon hats, like the one I’m making here.

Related: 10+ Tips On How To Wear An Edwardian Hat Veil

‘With an afternoon hat a large veil of lace, or plain-meshed tulle with a fancy border […] should be draped around the crown and arranged loosely, so that it may be thrown back easily when desired.’ (The Lace County Times, 1907) ‘The Chantilly lace veils with their cobweb-like borders of roses and leaves are the most popular. […] These Chantilly veils come in white, cream and black’ (Evening Star, 1906). ‘Old hats, the hats of last summer, can be rejuvenated by the proper use of the lace veil.’ (The San Francisco Call, 1904)

One or one and a half yard was needed for an Edwardian hat veil. The veil was attached to the brim of the hat with decorative veil pins or clasps and removed again at the end of the day.