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