The History of Fashion: Most Important Style Moments of the 20th Century
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1900s: Feathered Hat
Often referred to as the "Plume Boom," the popularity of wearing real feathers in hats reached its peak in the early 20th century. According to The Smithsonian, women adorned their hats with feathers, wings, and even full taxidermied birds. This caused a huge decline in the bird population, and even led to the extinction of some. William Hornaday, director of the New York Zoo¬logical Society and formerly chief taxidermist at the Smithsonian, said that in a short nine-month period, the London feather market used up to 130 thousand Egret birds!