20-04-2025
The elegance and eccentricity of Easter bonnets on parade
Traditionally, Easter was a time to wear new clothes. After the self-denial of Lent, it was a chance to celebrate in style - and represented the emergence of a new, reborn, Pepys wrote in his diary in 1662 about getting new clothes for his wife "against Easter" and Shakespeare's Mercutio asks, "Didst though not fall out with a tailor for wearing his new doublet before Easter?"It was considered lucky to first wear new clothes to church, and many people would proudly display their new garments by taking a promenade afterwards through town - hence the Easter if a new outfit is beyond the budget - a newly trimmed hat would this was a sentiment indulged by the then London Tourist Board which obligingly ran annual Easter Bonnet take a look.
