Hat Pins, Stick Pins and Hat Ornaments

Did you ever wonder what the difference was between hat pins and stick pins?  Are you familiar with hat ornaments?  Well, not much mystery here.  The difference between a hat pin and a stick pin is the length.  Stick pins are generally under 3" long. 

Hat pins tend to be 5" or longer. Because of their longer length, hat pins also tend to be much more elaborately decorated than stick pins.  A chain is sometimes added to keep the parts together.

The original purpose of hat pins was, of course, to hold one's hat in place.  In the 19th century in particular, hats and hairstyles were very elaborate.  A hat pin was the perfect final touch to one's toilette and kept everything in place.  Multiple hat pins may have worn and designs were very ornamental.   During the Victorian era, simpler hat pins were in favor for daytime wear and you can find many examples of Victorian pins with only a single bead or decoration at the top.

Hat pins are still worn today.  However, they are also a wonderful collectible. A cluster of interesting hat pins can be placed in a small vase on a dresser or in the master bath.  Modern examples of hat pins are easily obtainable and relatively inexpensive.

Another wonderful way to display them is in an antique hat pin holder.  During the Victorian era, these holders were very common as a part of a dressing table set.  They look like a small vase with a "salt shaker" type top.  The holes in the top keep the pins upright and separated so that they display well.  They can be found in a variety of materials to match any bedroom or bath and are affordable.

Hat ornaments were popular primarily in the 20's and 30's and look a bit like stick pins.  Both ends are  decorated and one end unscrews so the pin can be placed through the hat.  These were popular when hats fitted close to the head and a hat pin wasn't really needed.  They were simply used as a piece of jewelry.  Brooches and dress clips were also worn on hats at this time. Good examples of hat ornaments are harder to find since the fashion lasted so briefly. 

Below is a hat ornament of pot metal and hand set rhinestones.