Don't Forget the Cap!

When looking at 1850's and 1860's reproduction bonnets, there is one little detail that living historians often miss: The Cap.  The cap is a frill of netting or lace around the face seen in 1850's and 1860's bonnets which was a replacement of separate caps.  Unfortunately, trimmings including caps have been removed from many extant bonnets making the cap seem like a little skippable detail. However, looking at antique photographs will show caps as almost universal on bonnets making them and important detail present on quality reproduction bonnets.