Throughout the years, hats played an important role not only as a fashionable garment, but also as an indicator of the social status, religious affiliation, branch of work, and other essential aspects of people’s lives. Hats are much more than just a headpiece: some of them made a major contribution to the development of the national economy, while others became the symbol of social movements. So, here is the history of 3 of the most iconic hats of the 20th century:
Irish flat cap
Irish flat caps did not originate in the 20th century, but the apex of their popularity was the sure in the 1920s. This rounded cap with a small stiff brim in front was made of tweed, wool, or cotton, and due to its ability to keep warm and protect from the natural factors, it was usually worn in Great Britain and Ireland, as the name suggests, as the headwear of the working class. Later, these hats were adopted even by the aristocracy, who preferred to wear caps made of higher-class materials for countryside activities such as playing sports or hunting. So, in the 1920s, flat caps became a classless item, being worn by men of all ages as a trendy accessory regardless of their social status. Nowadays, celebrities like Daniel Craig, George Clooney, and Ryan Gosling can often be seen pulling them off. If you are looking for one, stock a large range of Irish flat caps and find one that would fit you comfortably and would be a chic addition to your style.
Fedora
The term „fedora” came in use in 1891 after the play „Fedora” written by the French dramatist Victorien Sardou, in which the main character, Princess Fedora Romanov, played by the then extremely popular actress Sarah Bernhardt, was wearing a center-creased, soft brimmed hat. Fedora hats were originally worn by women, being especially popular among the activists for gender equality and thus becoming a symbol of this movement. In 1924, Prince Edward started wearing Fedoras as an alternative to the more formal and imposing Homburg hat; being a fashion-icon at the time, The Prince of Wales popularized these garments among men and Fedoras were quickly adopted in their style. After that, the Fedora hat became an iconic headpiece, particularly in the movies, where it was worn by such recognizable actors as Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca and Harrison Ford in the Indiana Jones movies.
Floppy hat
An ageless model, a floppy hat represents a wide-brimmed headpiece, initially made of straw, that protected from the dangerously hot summer sun. This classically feminine hat is tracked back to the 18th century when it used to be decorated with flowers and ribbons and worn with long skirts and dresses of that time. Even though they originated long before the 20th century, floppy hats had a renaissance in the 1960s thanks to such icons as Faye Dunaway and Brigitte Bardot, becoming more popular than ever and never going out of style since then. These days, designers like Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Cardin present floppy hats in their collections as charming items that can be worn all year long.
