Hats are not just a way to keep one’s head warm or to make a fashion statement. Hats can symbolize social status and a character’s personal expression. When Dete returns to take Heidi to Frankfurt, she is wearing a fancy new hat with a feather. Desiring to make a new start in life and impress her new employers, Dete’s hat symbolizes her yearning to break out of her social class and for people to view her as a person with status. Grandfather does not put up much of a fight to keep Heidi, but he does say, “I don’t want to see her with a feather in her hat” (63). Grandfather doesn’t want Heidi to become like Dete, who only cares about how others see her based on her clothing. He fears Heidi’s time in the city will corrupt her with materialism, just as it has Dete.

When Heidi dons her simple straw hat, Dete says, “It’s pretty shabby, but it’ll have to do” (63). Later, Rottenmeier also judges Heidi’s hat as ragged and inferior. Heidi’s straw hat symbolizes her character. It is simple and made of natural materials and ideal for rugged outdoor life. While in Frankfurt, with the help of Sebastian, Heidi safeguards her straw hat, just as she protects her hope of returning home.