| When most people think of coat racks, they | | | | clothing and items from daily life of the |
| think strictly of hanging coats, hats, and | | | | eras these participants portray.I've found |
| scarves. But coat racks can be a lot more | | | | Renaissance festivals and Civil War |
| than just a place to keep clutter off the | | | | Reenactments to be especially rich sources of |
| floor. They can also provide you with an | | | | quality reproduction vintage clothing (and |
| opportunity to display your own, unique | | | | many other interesting items useful for |
| decorating tastes.One of my favorite ways to | | | | decorating).Both events attract a large |
| decorate with coat racks is to display | | | | number or merchants who specialize in |
| vintage clothing on them. Wall-mounted coat | | | | reproduction vintage clothing and other items |
| racks work particularly well for displaying | | | | of those times. And you can find many of |
| vintage hats and bonnets. And floor-mounted | | | | these merchants on the Internet, as well.Be |
| coat racks are a natural for cloaks, gowns, | | | | aware, though, that while you can usually |
| shawls and scarves.Don't go cheap when using | | | | find a greater variety of items through these |
| coat racks as a decorating accent. True, you | | | | merchants in brand new condition, the prices |
| can pick up a generic wall-mounted coat rack | | | | for reproductions can be expensive because of |
| for under $10 and a floor-standing one for | | | | the amount of labor involved in faithfully |
| under $30. But if your goal is to create an | | | | reproducing construction techniques from a |
| eye-catching accent, don't expect a cheap one | | | | pre-mass production era.In looking for |
| to have the effect you want.Bent wood, | | | | vintage hats to display on a wall-mounted |
| rattan, wrought iron, or brass give you the | | | | coat rack, you can either go for a single |
| best eye appeal in a floor-standing coat | | | | era, or go eclectic with vintage hats from a |
| rack. And look for furniture-quality solid | | | | number of eras and styles. And don't forget |
| hardwood in wall-mounted coat racks. Don't | | | | the eye appeal of including one hat in your |
| settle for generic, dime-store coat hooks on | | | | collection that drapes a ribbon down beneath. |
| your coat rack when you can easily combine | | | | Or consider dangling a vintage umbrella or |
| the beauty of brass and porcelain or get the | | | | cane from one hook to create various lengths |
| rustic strength of wrought iron.You can find | | | | of items hung from your coat rack.And the |
| wall-mounted coat racks with rosemaling, or | | | | hats you use don't necessarily need to be |
| other styles of decorative painting. These | | | | formal. Some of the most effective hats I've |
| always add to your accent, as do such | | | | found for decorating have been the well-worn, |
| features as a plate rack or decorative shelf | | | | but extremely unique, vintage hats of |
| on top that allows you to display other | | | | everyday laborers.For a floor-standing coat |
| collectibles.And a mirror, whether etched or | | | | rack, avoid reproduction or vintage clothing |
| plain, on your wall-mounted coat rack is | | | | that really needs a hanger for it to look its |
| always a big plus. Not only does it enhance | | | | best. Look instead for drapey items such as |
| the beauty of your accent, but it provides a | | | | cloaks, gowns, shawls, and scarves. |
| much appreciated service to your guests of | | | | Experiment with interweaving a colorful scarf |
| letting them check their appearance after | | | | or shawl among dark and elegant formal |
| coming in from outdoors. | | | | wear.Or try hanging a coat or gown by the |
| | | | shoulder instead of by the collar for a |
| As for finding vintage hats or clothing for | | | | casual, asymmetrical look. Include a vintage |
| your coat rack, here are some places to | | | | purse. Or, depending on the effect you want |
| try.Most larger cities have at least one | | | | to create, consider the effect that draping |
| vintage clothing store available. You can | | | | some vintage silk stockings or lingerie could |
| also find vintage clothing in many estate | | | | add to the accent you create.The options are |
| sales. And more and more second-hand stores | | | | endless when it comes to combining coat racks |
| gather vintage clothing donated to them into | | | | and vintage clothing. Just use a quality coat |
| a special area.Or you can look for | | | | rack that does justice to what you display |
| reproduction vintage clothing and hats from | | | | and let your imagination, and your decorating |
| merchants who specialize in supplying the | | | | taste, be your guide in selecting items to |
| participants of living history events with | | | | display on it. |