The Tam 0′ Shanter has been around for centuries, and reappears in women’s hat styles from decade to decade. (To see tams from 1917, click here. For tams from 1924 and 1925, click here and here.) The tams below — patterns #1493 and #1498 — are some variations from McCall’s Needlework Catalogues dated May and November, 1950.
McCall hat pattern #1463, Store catalog, May, 1950. Views A and B would have been called “tams” in the 1920s.
As in 1925, tam 0′ shanters (now called berets) were made of wool, or of fancier fabrics such as velvet or silk, and trimmed with tassels, beads, costume jewelry, etc.
Tams with trims from 1924 -1925. Pattern illustrations, Butterick’s Delineator magazine.
McCall pattern 1498, from McCall Needlework Catalogue, Nov. 1950. Version C is a Tam, now called a Beret.
McCall pattern information for #1498, store catalog, May 1950.
“Beret, smart, in velvet or tweed.”
The other, very-tight-to-the-scalp hats coming into style (View B) fit perfectly over the popular permanent (often a home permanent by Toni) that created a wreath of curls around the face, but left the hair at the top of the head smooth and uncurled. First Lady Mamie Eisenhower is a good example of this hairdo.
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