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
