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