Cartwheel Hat

The cartwheel (pancake, platter) hat has a flat, shallow crown and a wide, stiff brim. When seen above it resembles a wagon wheel.

In the late 1930s it was seen on resort beaches and was often featured on brides with an open crown. This type of hat was often used in the late 1940s and early 1950s as an accessory to Dior’s New Look, as it provided visual balance to the wide skirts.

In the 1950s cartwheels were used in the evening as cocktail hats and lavishly trimmed with feathers and flowers.

Written by LadyScarletts

See Also: Picture Hat, Platter Hat

1720-50 German wool cartwheel hat

Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

1930s white straw cartwheel hat

Courtesy of pastperfectvintage

1938 Edward Molyneux straw cartwheel hat

Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

1940s black cartwheel hat

Courtesy of ladyscarlets

1940s Gage straw cartwheel hat

Courtesy of thespectrum

1940s straw cartwheel hat

Courtesy of myvintageclothesline

1948 Laddie Northridge Cartwheel hat

Courtesy of rue_de_la_paix

1940s/1950s Vandevers of Tulsa straw cartwheel hat

Courtesy of thespectrum

1940s/1950s straw cartwheel hat

Courtesy of Veracious Vintage Co.

1950s red straw cartwheel hat

Courtesy of vivavintageclothing