It was a much more formal society. People did not automatically used first names, you called someone Mr Miss or Mrs even if you saw them everyday at work or in the street , until you were invited to use their first name.Friends of your parents were usually honorary Aunty or uncle, friends of your school friends were Mrs and Mr surname.
It wasn't just hats and gloves either, women who weren't actually on holiday would be frowned on for bare legs. Women in trousers, ditto.
You had clothes for best, clothes for work, clothes for at home, and you didn't mix them up. Most people didn't have the number of clothes that people have now and anything you wore outside the home reflected on you, your status, your income, your social standing and the way you viewed yourself. For some people it had started to become a mobile society and for many people the clothes they wore and the way they wore them was a reflection of how their circumstances were improving .A new outfit was something to be treasured, and looked after, bearing in mind that keeping clothes clean was a much more laborious business, no easy care fabrics, washable wool, few home washing machines. Part of the respect you showed for yourself was by how you wore your clothes. Clean polished shoes, stockings without mends, a smart handbag , a hat, gloves.
Thank heavens things changed. Thankyou Mary Quant, Biba, BusStop and all the other fashion pioneers who changed attitudes.