Drie vrouwen met hoeden 1907 - 1916

This is a photograph, *Drie Vrouwen met Hoeden*, or *Three Women with Hats*, by Johannes Hendrikus Antonius Maria Lutz. Given the date of the photo, the hats are the real focal point here. Look at how the brims are shaped, how the feathers are attached. These details are critical, as these hats were produced by highly skilled milliners, crafting them out of textiles, trims, and feathers. There was real labor involved. The cost of these would have been far out of reach for most women. It is a demonstration of the ways in which fashion can be an indicator of social standing, through the materials and expertise necessary to create an exclusive look. This image also highlights the history of these hats; how they evolved, what materials were used, and the fact that these materials were, in turn, tied to colonial exploitation and the destruction of bird populations. Ultimately, this photograph is a way for us to look at the culture of fashion, as well as the wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption.