George Bollman's son, George W. Bollman, joined his father in the business in 1897 at the age of twenty. More color and more ladies hats were going into production at the Bollman Factory during the 1890's. Women's clothing styles shed some of the extravagances of previous decades. Early 1890's dresses consisted of a tight bodice with the skirt gathered at the waist and falling more naturally over the hips than in previous years.
During the mid-1890's, skirts took on an A-line silhouette that was almost bell-like. The late 1890's returned to the tighter sleeves often with small puffs or ruffles capping the shoulder but fitted to the wrist. Skirts took on a trumpet shape, fitting more closely over the hip and flaring just above the knee. Corsets in the 1890's helped define the hourglass figure. The corset was painful to wear. Some women would starve themselves to get to a sixteen inch waist. The flat-top, wide-brim style demonstrated in this Boater was the perfect accent for these styles - a conservative shape with just the right amount of flair. A gold felt with a tonal fabric rosette with a matching band and a large ostrich feather elegantly match the style of this century. This hat comes in a special edition Bollman Heritage Hat Box.