Posted on 09/17/2024 3:27:34 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Image of Yonge Street crowd celebrating the end of the Boer War in 1900, with the majority of people in the image wearing hats. Credits: William James / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain Headwear has been an essential fashion item for almost as long as it has existed, but people these days are not wearing hats as often as they used to in times past.
Since ancient Egypt and ancient Greece, people have worn headwear. Men and women commonly used headwear, and pharaohs wore their iconic Nemes striped headcloth to communicate their status. In the Middle Ages, there were laws requiring everyone to wear hats.
Later, top and bowler hats were used for centuries in English society, where they distinguished men and women of status. In the US, bowler hats were the most used form of headwear, and hats, in general, were commonplace.
For centuries, one would be hard-pressed to find anyone who left their home without headwear. However, as the ’60s and ’70s rolled around, hats became less and less common. So, how did hats fall from popular fashion to an item people could do without so quickly?
The disappearance of hat wearing
Rumors circulate about the disappearance of the hat from modern fashion. The most prominent of these relates to President John F. Kennedy. Kennedy was always bare-headed, and with his extreme popularity, it is believed that his lack of a hat may have come to represent modern fashion.
Grecian Delight supports Greece
With the rise of a generation known for rebelling against traditional norms in the ’60s and ’70s, it makes sense why caps would be ousted from fashion.
The implications of transportation modes on hat usage However, the most likely reason for the lack of a hat is the rise of vehicles and public transportation. Thanks to advancements in transportation technology, society has rapidly transformed to the point where it is hard to conceptualize how fast the change has taken hold in how the world works today.
In a few decades, man’s primary mode of transportation went from horses and trains to cars, buses, and subway systems. Humanity’s exposure to the elements significantly decreased with the advent of these vehicles. Suddenly, a hat became cumbersome, making one duck when leaving an automobile or a bus. It often got knocked off and became uncomfortable for the user.
Just because hats have disappeared from popular fashion doesn’t mean they are not still utilized. Headwear these days is more focused on protection from the sun, like easily stored baseball caps, arguably one of the more popular forms of headwear. In terms of the top hats of old, they still find their place at British weddings and horse races.
Military personnel worldwide still wear headwear. However, the form of headdress has changed significantly throughout the centuries. Earlier, they would wear large bearskin caps and other more extravagant forms of headwear.
With the arrival of guns, military headwear has changed to more practical hard helmets and berets that can easily be stored when soldiers need to switch to their helmets.
While hats aren’t as popular these days as before, they still find their use in the modern world. However, there will always be those who wish for the old days when hats could be found on every head on the street.
Who wants hat hair?
-PJ
He took it iff fir his address.
They're nice. But no reason to wear them everyday.
Nice hats like fedoras and Stetsons occasionally come back in style, but a really nice hat like those have become prohibitively expensive. One might be willing to shell out the dough, but since the mass of people aren't, you'd still look like an oddity among the bareheaded and ball cap wearing masses. This goes for both women as men, as nice hats for women used to be common too.
I’ll wear a hat to prevent getting burned to a crisp in the summer sun.
I found a pristine New Era ballcap, still had the price tag of $40.00 on it.
Lo and behold it actually fit my big canonball head !
Only problem , it’s a LA Dodgers cap. 😂
I got three, and all three I wear very proudly because of what they represent.
One thing that pisses me off the most is that these dudes have never been taught proper etiquette regarding caps since they wear them into bars and restaurants without taking them off.
But then again, old time etiquette has become a thing of the past and goops and cruds have taken its place.
Aww! Always thought they looked dapper. Both my GFs wore them....especially at church.
And both GMs wore hats, gloves, matching pumps and handbags (always containing fresh, laundered linen hankies and mints and lipstick).
And as a side note, most interviewers are evidently prejudiced against hats. I’ve been to many job interviews while wearing my hat. Haven’t had a single offer.
I don’t understand men who wear hats into restaurants. And they eat dinner with their hat on! Where did they grow up? I have both of my grandmothers’ collection of etiquette books. They are wonderful - although I recognize that not everyone would find them interesting. Life used to be very structured. Less so now, fortunately.
Good memory.
“Amazing!!”
When I started working in Manhattan just over 10 years ago, a business suit was required wearing at my office. I felt a little reckless just removing my necktie towards the end of the workday.
Nowadays it is a rarety to see a business suit on my commuter train. The fake COVID pandemic only accelerated that trend as those few who did go to the office (such as myself) no longer needed to dress up as we were basically ZOOMING with the people still at home who probably had pajama bottoms from the waist down.
I’ve always thought a man wearing a Fedora was sooo sexy (swoon), and wished they’d come back in style. Maybe I watched too many old movies as a kid/teen. Ah, Gregory Peck in his Fedora. What lady wouldn’t melt?
Lots of pics from the 50s and 60s of sports fans wearing suits to the games. The football and basketball coaches wore suits too.
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