Fanchon – Fanchon Bonnet – Fanchon Hat

A fanchon is a flat, unstructured head covering with elongated, decorative side pieces resembling earlaps. They were worn atop the head and usually made of lace, with or without additional fabric such as linen or muslin, or of delicate, embroidered netting. They were typically triangular, diamond-shaped, or round.

The fanchon hat or bonnet is the same shape as a fanchon, but with more structure. It is a very small, often triangular or circular hat that sits atop the head and has ribbons at either side to tie beneath the chin.

Both were popular in the mid-Victorian era (mid-19th Century).

Written by BetterDressesVintage

See Also: Headkerchief – Head Scarf , Mantilla

1860 American silk fanchon

Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

1865 French silk fanchon

Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

1868 French silk fanchon

Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

1880 American linen fanchon

Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

late 1700s bobbin lace fanchon

Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

mid 1800s Belgian linen fanchon

Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art