The History Of Hats In America

At one time, Americans wore hats to church, to dance clubs, to school, to work and to weddings. The black hat was considered a staple of any well-to-do man’s closet. Women saw hat collecting as a viable pastime and a way of showing their status. Some women wore big showy hats, while others wore simple cloches. Over the years, styles for men and may have changed slightly, as men wear baseball caps and women wear berets, but hat wearing in general seems a timeless American tradition.

A Panama hat was a popular accessory for a linen or silk suit. The hat style is associated with tropical regions because they are lightly colored, lightweight and breathable. Past notable Panama hat wearers include US Presidents Teddy Roosevelt and Harry Truman, as well as TV/movie personalities like the First Doctor on the British Sci-fi show “Doctor Who,” actor Paul Henreid (”Lazlo”) from Casablanca, “Clark Gable” in Gone With The Wind and Charlie Chan, who appeared in thirties and forties detective movies. Today, hat companies like Stetson, Dobbs and Cavanaugh sell more Panama hats than fedoras or bowlers, indicating the enduring nature of this style. At www.brentblack.com, there are a number of different styles for men and women.

Women also have many different hat styles available to them. At first, women wore headgear to blend in with men, hiding their true identity so they could have equal opportunities with males. However, once discovered, hats were seen as a very beautiful addition to a strong woman. Editor of Harpers Bazaar, Jeannine Larmouth, pointed out: “A hat is a shameless flatterer, calling attention to an escaping curl, a tawny braid, a sprinkling of freckles over a pert nose, directing the eye to what is most unique about a face. Its curves emphasize a shining pair of eyes, a lofty forehead; its deep brim accentuates the pale tint of a cheek, creates an aura of prettiness, suggests a mystery that awakens curiosity in the onlooker.” Womens apparel fashion can be found at www.hatagories.com, which offers berets, cloches, derby hats, large brims, beanies, fedoras, wedding accessories and church apparel. Another worthwhile site, www.louisegreen.com, also offers fine hat selections for women.

Baseball caps first gained popularity in 1860, when the Brooklyn Excelsiors walked onto the field donning them 11 years after the NY Knickerbockers wore the first baseball uniform. The “Brooklyn-style cap” had become exceedingly popular with baseball teams and fans by 1900. Today this is one of the most popular and enduring hat styles in America; tennis player, golfers, truck drivers, boy scouts, mail carriers, soldiers and filmmakers all wear them. Heck, even the Dalai Lama donned a Washington Nationals baseball hat when he visited the capital! “The baseball cap is an iconic symbol in baseball and fashion,” explains John DeWaal, VP of global marketing for Buffalo, New York based New Era Hats. “People have an affinity for baseball, and part of that relationship is the baseball cap. We want to celebrate what the baseball cap has meant to the country, to the world. It’s a fascinating history.” A wide selection of these legendary hats can be found at www.neweracap.com.

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