Early Victorian Era 1840-1849 Click on pattern name to see further descriptions and views. The Louisa Ann The 1840's blocked crown coal scuttle bonnet. The style is marked by the horizontal line from the crown to the brim. The bonnet creates the classic 1840's horseshoe shaped silhouette.  The Lydia Alma A coal scuttle style bonnet introduced around 1840.  The style differed greatly from its poke bonnet predecessors by the horizontal line from back to front with no flare.  The flat crown can be wadded for a softer look.  The Arabella Grace An 1840's cottage bonnet with a blocked crown popular in the 1840's.  The brim flared more than its coal scuttle predecessors.  The style creates a horseshoe silhouette around the face.  The Ada Gray A cottage bonnet popular in the mid 1840's. The style continued in use into 1850's and was featured in Godey's Lady's Book as late as 1856.  The Violet Mae A blocked back cottage bonnet.  Has a larger crown and slightly more flare than it's cousin, Arabella Grace. The Verretta Louia  A late 1840's Horseshoe and predecessor to the early 1850's circle shaped bonnets.  Choosing an 1840's Bonnet In the Fashion Pages Godey's Lady's Book 1840 Godey's Lady's Book 1841 Godey's Lady's Book 1845 Godey's Lady's Book 1846 Belle Assemble 1847 Godey's Lady's Book 1849 In Practical Millinery The early 1840's saw the collapse of the huge poke bonnet. Where the brim once flared from the headpiece, a straight line emerged.  Brims maintained their roundness from the front in the very early 1840’s. By 1842, bonnets took on a horseshoe shaped coal scuttle style. The ties attached inside the bonnet to allow the ends to hang like dog ears! The style mimicked the loops of doggy ear braids or cocker spaniel curls over the ears.  Although present in some fashion plates since the mid 1830's, the cottage bonnet took hold in the mid 1840's as the long rounded points of the coal scuttle bonnet shortened into sweet broadly rounded corners. By 1848, the bonnet began to flare allowing for a rounded shape which would maintain popularity well into the 1850's.   Originals in our Collection All images are property of Timely Tresses unless otherwise noted. Phone: 919-235-8221 E-mail: admin@timelytresses.com