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Only a few decades ago, a woman would not be well dressed without a becoming hat to complement her costume. Here, antiques dealers and hat collectors Reilly and Detrich share their enthusiasm for women's hats while tracing the history of this fashion item from the turn of the century until 1975. With over 665 examples displayed on dummies and photographed in full color, their book testifies to the almost infinite variety of hat designs available to American women over the years. After briefly profiling ten American and seven French milliners, the authors provide a long list of "labels to look for," highlighting hats that vintage-clothing enthusiasts are likely to discover at antique shows, flea markets, and vintage clothing stores. They also explain how hats are made, how to date old hats (admittedly difficult, but their advice should help), how to determine purchase price, and how to care for, store, and display these treasures. The book evokes a feeling of nostalgia and likely will inspire designers and collectors. Therese Duzinkiewicz Baker, Western Kentucky Univ. Libs., Bowling Green Copyright 1998 Library Journal Reviews