Traditionally Easter was a time that people bought a new hat, it was the end of lent and signified the start of a new season, it also meant that you attended church for three days in a row. It soon became a feature of Easter with people adorning their new items to wear to church and inter village excitement would build over who was wearing the latest fashions.

A hat with eyelet embroidery casts floral shadows on the face, 1940. (Alfred Eisenstaedt—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)

A woman models a Sally Victor Hat, 1940. (George Karger—The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images)

A woman models a new spring hat, 1941. (Herbert Gehr—The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images)

A lady wears an extravagant hat with flowers and a veil. 1945. (George Karger—The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images)

Checkered fashion at the horse races, 1945. (Nina Leen—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)

A woman adjusts her flowered hat while looking in a trick one-way mirror, 1946. (Yale Joel—The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images)

On model Marjorie Henderson’s hat, the early bird catches the worm, 1947. (Charles E. Steinmeimer—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)

Teenagers wear “Penny” hats, 1948. (Nina Leen—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)

A new french hat for spring, 1948. (Nina Leen—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)

Brightly dressed spectators attend an event in England, 1950. (Cornell Capa—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)

Brightly dressed spectators attend an event in England, 1950. (Gordon Parks—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)

Models on the beach wear different designs of straw hats, 1950. (Nina Leen—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)

Miss Sweden Anita Ekberg sports a severely styled sailor hat during her hat-buying spree while visiting the U.S., 1951. (Lisa Larsen—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)

A well-furnished hat is trimmed with table, chairs, rug and kitchen equipment, 1951. (Nina Leen—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)

A hook-fastened John Frederics hat allows space for the model’s ponytail. (Martha Holmes—The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images)

Actress Mamie Van Doren sits in her Jaguar wearing a hat, 1954. (Loomis Dean—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)

A woman wears a party hat with two flowers decorated in the traditional garden style as part of the Gainsboro fashion collection, 1956. (Sharland—The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images)

An image from a series on wives of missile men celebrating their husbands’ work on satellites with silly hats, 1958. (Hank Walker—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)