TIP OF THE HAT! A social history of the covered head

Comunicato Stampa disponibile solo in lingua originale.

Hats and head coverings offer not only protection against wind and weather. As much as people talk about hats, hats themselves speak – as symbol and statement. They communicate #fashion preferences, convey information about religious and cultural affiliation, reveal political attitudes, and offer tangible evidence concerning a person’s social rank and standing. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that the hat makes the person.
Tip of the Hat! follows these lines of thought, developing a social history of the covered head from the Revolution of 1848 to the present. Spread over five thematic concentrations, the exhibition reflects on social processes and relates Viennese history – starting, of course, with the head. Hats emerge as symbols of power, as conspicuous expressions of affluence, and as signs of status. Caps are equally multi-faceted, serving by turns as a component of a uniform, as a #fashion accessory, or as a marker of political conviction. Hoods, yarmulkes, and headscarves function as a personal “trademark” or as a symbol of religious and cultural identity. Hats tell stories about their wearers and about their particular place in Viennese society. A central aim of the exhibition is to make Viennese #fashion history legible as social history. Approximately 140 objects are on view, among them 100 hats and other kinds of headwear. A portion of the objects on display stem from the Wien Museum’s vast #fashion collection.

TIP OF THE HAT!
A social history of the covered head
Wien Museum Karlsplatz, 1040 #vienna 9 June to 30 October 2016

Tuesday through Sunday and holidays, 10 a.m to 6 p.m. www.wienmuseum.at

- Fotogallery (10)