Hat pins during the early 1900s grew to 14 plus inches. During the suffrage movement, police were afraid to break up picketing women for fear of being stabbed. Laws were introduced requiring hat pins to be limited to no more than 8 inches. This also played to the new bob hair style and much smaller hats.
danielclaeys
I kinda wish we still had hatpins. When they were in vogue women also used it as self defence against harassers, especially when travelling alone. I often think of the painting The Irritating Gentleman by Berthold Woltze, and how with art imaging techniques they showed that the girl in the painting was holding a hat pin. There’s something poetic about this hidden hat pin. Like there’s a secret strength to the young girl. Tldr; I really like hat pins
BohemianScandalous
It was used for self defence, because women were being assaulted in the streets by men & the cops allowed it. YOU STAB ANYONE WHO ASSAULTS YOU... that’s how it was traditionally used.
pseudopuppy
I have my great-grandmother's Suffragette hat with the beautiful purple ribbon. The hat-pin is indeed around 15 inches long. I inherited her very thick hair and can sit on it, the hat is so big that it will accommodate most of my hair.
ruthgriffiths
So you don’t stab anyone… accidentally. I’m going to need a follow up on that sentence!
edit: I love how so far the people below are getting excited about hat pin self defence XD Jill bearup's video is great
cherryowl
I remember reading about how hat pins were used for self defense. Along with those sticks that go between your boobs down your corset. I forgot what it’s called
KarenLeos
This has increased my desire to get into old-fashiony hats.
caileyrookids
I recently found my great grandmother’s harping from 1908. The end of it said “08” so we think it may have been a high school graduation gift.
ReisigSeeds
I need this for modern wear too! Ive lost soo many Berets that just fly away😢😅
TammyJerkChicken
i’ve literally been asking myself how these work for ages MY PRAYERS HAVE FINALLY BEEN ANSWERED thank you :]
PercabethLovernot
My mom still has her hat pins, they all sit in a ceramic cup on her dresser. And her closet shelves has tons of boxed hats.
raneylee
Personally I put it front to back through my hat and hairdo. Your method makes me feel like the hat will be lifted by the wind every other minute (I live in a windy place) ^^ I also occasionally use two hatpins in different directions to be sure.
Great to see hatpins mentioned on Youtube !
EmelieWaldken
As a dude with a ponytail that loves to wear hats, this is genius😂😂
winycentaur
hat pins are why in the code for the national anthem (under ‘conduct while playing’) technically only men have to remove their hats
seeseembo
For those of us with much shorter hair - you can loosely hand sew a bit of elastic thread through the front 1/2 or 2/3 of the inner hat band, then tie the ends together. then, when you put the hat on, stretch that bit of elastic around the back of your head. Holds on great even on windy days, and basically invisible especially if you sorta match the thread to your hair.
iesika
this is genius. it's practical AND a weapon at the same time!
felix-xdmx
Today I learned that hatpins length was for a functional reason. Thank you for that
lwolfstar
My mom works at The Alamo as part of the living history department so she has learned and keeps learning about the fashions around 1830s. She's hoping with the expansions that's happening to be able to show off fashion from earlier and later.
She's got around 5 hats and a few hair pins. Her main trouble is that she's got such thick hair.
bethanysmith
As a kid, I always wondered how in the world women were able to keep their hats from blowing away. That's such a beautiful way to keep your hat on😍
rianlacour
Hat pins are kind of magical objects and I loved my collection of them. Some quite ornate.
