1940s 1950s Red Straw Hat / Early 1950s Spring Summer Late 。What an impressive & unique black straw hat! The standout feature is the opening at the top of the crown. The crown is short and round, & surrounded by a black grosgrain band that ends in a streamer at the back. There is a beautiful & large red fabric flower above the streamer at the back. There its an elastic band attached to keep the hat in place. The wartime 40’s saw a huge variety of hats that were suitable for any face shape, hairstyle or personal preference. Throughout the war & on both sides of the Atlantic, elaborate creations brightened dreary utility fashions, brought about by rationing. The only items not rationed were hat materials. Explosions of feathers, veiling & artificial flowers were popular. Label: NEW YORK CREATION The New York Dress Institute was formed in 1941 by fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert as a joint venture between the clothing manufacturers of New York City & the ILGWU. The label was created by a group of well-known designers who wanted to remain anonymous & wanted to support the New York Creation label & keep it competitive with French styles of the era. The label is small, white & blue and most of the time it states the hat size…22 or 23, or ADJUSTABLE This is an authentic piece of fashion history! This hat is in wonderful vintage condition & has been lovingly preserved among over 1300 vintage hats we have collected for 40+ years. Feathers, straw, flowers & veils are fragile, given their age. Mannequin not for sale!