Vintage Hats & Bonnets 1770 to 1970 by Susan Langley (2009, Hardcover, Revised)

VINTAGE HATS AND BONNETS, By Susan Langley. THE BEST BOOK ON THE SUBJECT. Hurrah! Hat collectors all over the world and millinery lovers have long anticipated the publication of Ms. Langley's second edition. As a life long hat collector and millinery historian myself, I can strongly recommend this book to both the seasoned collector as well as the novice. It was well worth the wait, and is even better than expected. Her passion and love of the subject shows on every page, and her detailed research is quite extensive, with amazing rare information on famous and not so famous milliners and hat makers through the past centuries, and it is chock full of hard to find facts that would take someone 20 years to collect or find out on their own, and some facts that you might never find except here in her book. The history of hat making is also covered, as well as the wide variety of materials used, with emphasis on major design and style trends through the ages. And the hats themselves are a joy to behold! A treasure trove of full color, good sized photographs of marvelous hats from all eras will delight all who peruse the pages, some quite breath taking hats in here....with creations from many major milliners from Victorian to 1980's represented, as well as rare fashion plates, and photos of ladies wearing hats and more. Plus, there is valuable information on dating hats, caring for hats, and where to find true quality hats for your collection. Thankfully, she sets the record straight on many unanswered questions and misinformation that some folks have on hats and hat history....for which I am grateful because she finally lays to rest much of the incorrect information that has been going around out there and validates it all with her extensive research. I can honestly say that this is the BEST BOOK on the subject I have ever come across in my 30 years of research and collecting. STRONGLY RECOMMENDED. Reading this book is akin to taking a college course in hat history. I wish to say THANK YOU to Ms. Langley for her long hours of research, years of hard work, and her amazing love of hats.... and for sharing this all with the world. Hat collectors all over the world will all say....BRAVA SUSAN! Regards, Isadorafedora