Use Your Head - Hats off to Men's Fashion

Hats have long been a clothing accessory for men. Hat-wearing was at its peak from the late 19th Century. 

 

Up until the 1960s, most men wouldn’t have left the house without a hat. Bankers and stockbrokers commuted into the city wearing bowler hats, gentlemen wore straw boaters in the streets and manual workers went into the factories wearing cloth caps. The type of hat men wore may have been dependent upon their station, but regardless of class men did not venture out in public without a hat on. 

 

From over-styled headpieces show off rank and authority, right down to functional protective hats that helped with climate, weather, or the job in hand; men wearing hats is steeped in tradition and history. Hats historically have been worn to show wealth, power, status, and profession, as well as to address religious beliefs. 

 

Many modern hats are worn for fashion over need, with sports like tennis making a few exceptions for the Wimbledon sun and of course horse riding, rowing, and sailing often needing a good head piece to improve performance. 

 

Hats have made a comeback of late, and if you’re interested in what’s hot in the fashion world in 2019 this blog is worth a read. 

 

So, nowadays what hats do you need - and when should you wear them? We’ve got a good range of men’s hats in our Warwick store. Here are the highlights for you to consider… 

 

 

The top hat, made very famous again by a certain Mr Rees-Mogg, is a grand headpiece that was very common during the 19th century and early 20th century when it was the daily formal wear for upper and middle classes. 

 

The top hat can be either black or grey depending on colour of tail suit and is now more traditionally worn at weddings, Ascot races, investitures or the Buckingham Palace garden party. 

 

You’ll also need a top hat with your outfit if you’re going to become a concierge or a funeral director as it’s part and parcel of the style there. 

 

 

 

There are many global stereotypes and one of the most famous British ones is the man in a bowler hat. Tourists to London are often disappointed when Trafalgar Square isn’t a sea of floating bowler hats any more! 

 

The bowler hat in the UK was very famously worn by bankers or solicitors back in the day and it’s this iconic vision that the stereotype originated from, given our powerful and influential drive in the financial markets around the globe. 

 

Now though, you’re more likely to see a bowler hat on a farmer’s heads in the show ring at agricultural shows. 

 

 

 

The Straw hat is the first, practical hat on our list. With its link to boating and the outdoors, the straw hat is a perfect remedy to a bald or thinning head to protect your scalp in the summer months. 

 

A straw hat can also be called a boater. Although rarely worn, except at the Henley Regatta or in some public schools like Eton, you may well see a straw hat on the heads of a traditional barber shop quartet! 

 

The more common straw hat is the Panama. The Panama hat, which comes in either a trilby style or a folding style, is easily recognised by the rounded crown and raised crease down the centre. This is very much a summer hat and looks great with a blazer and trouser for smart casual dress. 

 

 

 

The Trilby hat came right back into fashion with the likes of Brad Pitt and films like Guy Ritchie’s, Snatch. 

 

The trilby hat was back in fashion a few years ago on the street and although this seems to have died down a little, you’ll still see the trilby hat at horse races. It’s usually a plain brown fur felt but you can find them in other colours and even in tweed. The trilby is mostly worn in the colder months with casual overcoats. 

 

 

 

The cap (not the baseball variety) is a popular fashion accessory for men and has seen a recent rise to fame thanks to Peaky Blinders. These can range from the classic Baker Boy 8-piece cap to the more traditional flat cap. 

 

These caps are mostly made from tweed fabrics and are designed in a plain or checked pattern. 

 

The cap can be worn by many different gents for many occasions. It’s very popular for a working gamekeeper or farmer, but it’s just as at home in a casual dress code, too. 

 

 

 

The hat is a long way from being out of fashion. In fact, we can’t think of a time when hats weren’t part of men’s or women’s fashion choice. 

 

From films to celebs, sports and the weather, there are many factors that require the wearing of a hat. We find the majority of the men we speak to need a top hat for their tails for their wedding suit, but we also have a good selection of panama and straw hats for those summer events. 

 

Need more help? Use your head and walk into Heaphys in Warwick for some expert advice and a good chat about fashion!