Hatstorian
April 3, 2024 9:41 AM Subscribe
The Hat Historian provides short histories of various hats in English (et en français,) from the Top Hat (le Haut-de-Forme) to the Bowler (le chapeau melon,) from the Tricorn (le Tricorne) to the Picklehaube (le Casque à pointe,) from the Custodian Helmet (le Casque de Bobby) to the Hard Hat (le Casque de Chantier,) and, of course, the Beret (le béret.)
Hats! Hats! Famous hats!
(I'm sorry, everyone, don't ... you don't have to listen to that ...)
Anyway, I really appreciate this. I got to thinking about wimples the other day and wondering why women don't cover their heads more, not for religious reasons but just because. We went hard in the direction of frequent hair-washing and styling instead, I guess.
posted by Countess Elena at 10:24 AM on April 3 [2 favorites]
(I'm sorry, everyone, don't ... you don't have to listen to that ...)
Anyway, I really appreciate this. I got to thinking about wimples the other day and wondering why women don't cover their heads more, not for religious reasons but just because. We went hard in the direction of frequent hair-washing and styling instead, I guess.
posted by Countess Elena at 10:24 AM on April 3 [2 favorites]
I don't see the Susquehanna...
posted by clavdivs at 11:10 AM on April 3 [1 favorite]
posted by clavdivs at 11:10 AM on April 3 [1 favorite]
Susquehanna!?!? Slowly I turned, step by step, inch by inch...
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This is a channel I didn't know I needed!
I've worn hats since my early 20's, to protect my already-balding head from the harsh elements (good advice from my grandfather, who learned the hard way about the need to avoid skin cancers). I own 4 different hats:
- The one I wear most is a wool flat cap. I like that I can turn it around backward if I don't need the brim shielding my eyes from sun or rain.
- My second most frequently-worn hat is a plain cotton baseball cap that I wear in the summer when it's too hot for wool but I want to keep the sun out of my eyes. Ditto the above for turning it backwards.
- I occasionally wear a wool felt outback hat that I bought specifically for its 3" brim, which does a great job of both keeping my head warm and protecting the back of my neck from winter rain and snow. Brr!
- For the summer months, when camping or hiking I use a floppy snap-brim canvas hat for better sun protection.
posted by Greg_Ace at 11:23 AM on April 3 [4 favorites]
==========
This is a channel I didn't know I needed!
I've worn hats since my early 20's, to protect my already-balding head from the harsh elements (good advice from my grandfather, who learned the hard way about the need to avoid skin cancers). I own 4 different hats:
- The one I wear most is a wool flat cap. I like that I can turn it around backward if I don't need the brim shielding my eyes from sun or rain.
- My second most frequently-worn hat is a plain cotton baseball cap that I wear in the summer when it's too hot for wool but I want to keep the sun out of my eyes. Ditto the above for turning it backwards.
- I occasionally wear a wool felt outback hat that I bought specifically for its 3" brim, which does a great job of both keeping my head warm and protecting the back of my neck from winter rain and snow. Brr!
- For the summer months, when camping or hiking I use a floppy snap-brim canvas hat for better sun protection.
posted by Greg_Ace at 11:23 AM on April 3 [4 favorites]
Good to see him showing here. I recently watched his episode on my favorite cap: the Flat Cap
posted by jvbthegolfer at 11:43 AM on April 3
posted by jvbthegolfer at 11:43 AM on April 3
I adore hats and glasses. I currently favor a French beret, and a winter wool cap thing with a wonderful but discreet pom pom on top. But I have my eye on a Venetian gondolier hat, straw,flat brim and a great black grosgrain ribbon circling it and flowing down the back. It's a bit pricey, 200.00 dollars, but I might just go for it.
posted by Czjewel at 12:02 PM on April 3 [3 favorites]
posted by Czjewel at 12:02 PM on April 3 [3 favorites]
@Greg_Ace, about that snap-brim canvas hat. Do you know of one that is made from actual cotton canvas, like would be used for a boat dodger or the like?
I used to own a hat shaped like that, called an "Ultimate Sailing Hat," made by union labor in Tampa, FL by a long-defunct factory. It was good for almost 30 years and I cannot find its like anywhere.
posted by Aardvark Cheeselog at 12:15 PM on April 3
I used to own a hat shaped like that, called an "Ultimate Sailing Hat," made by union labor in Tampa, FL by a long-defunct factory. It was good for almost 30 years and I cannot find its like anywhere.
posted by Aardvark Cheeselog at 12:15 PM on April 3
Unfortunately I don't. Mine is just a cheap hat bought from somewhere like Target or Wal-Mart. It's made of what I'd call semi-heavy cotton, not waterproof. Hats like it seem to generally be referred to as "canvas" online, but I don't really know the difference, or how that compares to what you're looking for. Sorry!
posted by Greg_Ace at 1:03 PM on April 3
posted by Greg_Ace at 1:03 PM on April 3
Tilley hats are still made of cotton canvas.
posted by clew at 3:01 PM on April 3 [1 favorite]
posted by clew at 3:01 PM on April 3 [1 favorite]
43rdAnd9th, you might find something you like here or here. This is where I got the "outback" hat I mentioned above, it's good quality without being super expensive.
posted by Greg_Ace at 3:10 PM on April 3
posted by Greg_Ace at 3:10 PM on April 3
I'm looking forward to watching this channel!
I've bought several hats from the Berkeley Hat Company. Sadly, in the in-store milliner at Berkeley passed away a few years ago; I could buy a custom-fitted, steamed all-straw Panama hat with a choice of hatbands for a low price. The shop also offered free repairs.
I bought a top hat for this Mr. Robot costume (video).
My Goon Halloween costume had the hat sculpted into the mask, so I didn't wear my dad's vintage Kangol flat cap. He bought it in the mid 80s on Jermyn Street in London, when Kangol was still made in England.
I currently alternate between the cold-weather vintage Kangol and a warm-weather straw Panama hat.
posted by JDC8 at 4:01 PM on April 3
I've bought several hats from the Berkeley Hat Company. Sadly, in the in-store milliner at Berkeley passed away a few years ago; I could buy a custom-fitted, steamed all-straw Panama hat with a choice of hatbands for a low price. The shop also offered free repairs.
I bought a top hat for this Mr. Robot costume (video).
My Goon Halloween costume had the hat sculpted into the mask, so I didn't wear my dad's vintage Kangol flat cap. He bought it in the mid 80s on Jermyn Street in London, when Kangol was still made in England.
I currently alternate between the cold-weather vintage Kangol and a warm-weather straw Panama hat.
posted by JDC8 at 4:01 PM on April 3
Mod note: We added this excellent coverage of a bit history over in the sidebar and Best Of blog!
posted by Brandon Blatcher (staff) at 6:30 AM on April 4 [2 favorites]
posted by Brandon Blatcher (staff) at 6:30 AM on April 4 [2 favorites]
Neat--thanks for posting!
Does anyone know of a similar resource for women's hats?
posted by indexy at 9:57 AM on April 4
Does anyone know of a similar resource for women's hats?
posted by indexy at 9:57 AM on April 4
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