Hats (or now also known as lids or caps) have been around as long as man has existed. It is impossible to say when the first animal skin was pulled over a head as protection against the elements, and although not a hat in the true sense, it was realized that covering your head could sometimes be an advantage. One of the first hats was found in a tomb painting at Thebes and shows a man wearing a coolie-style straw hat. Other early hats include the Pileus, a simple skull cap: the Phrygian cap, which became identified later as the ‘liberty cap’ given to slaves in Greece and Rome when they became free men; and, the Petasus from ancient Greece and is the first known brim hat.
The Middle Ages found a decorative peaked cap the most popular head wear. In the 16th century, Henry VIII made the velvet or silk beret popular. Often these berets had jewels and feathers attached to make them extremely colorful. Throughout these early centuries many forms of hats evolved. Hats for women were designed mainly for fashion while the hats for men were for protection in war.
During the 18th century, William Bowler introduced a more fashionable hat for men called the “derby”. Meanwhile hats for women increased in size, culminating with many ribbons, flowers, feathers and gauze trims in the late 19th century. Then Henry Ford changed hat styles with the invention of the automobile. Because of the closed quarters while sitting in a car, hats became smaller. The 1960s saw a considerable decrease in the wearing and manufacture of hats as men began to dress less formally and women began wearing wigs or having their hair designed into exotic “sculptures”. The hat became a temporary casualty of this movement. However, in the 1980’s and 90’s there was a revival of interest in women’s headwear. This was instigated, to a large extent, by public figures such as the late Princess of Wales’s enthusiasm for wearing hats. Many new hat designers emerged because of this, and therefore made the 90’s a very innovative and diverse period for hats. As we entered the 21st century, professional and college sports became more popular which created a demand for people to support their favorite team by wearing their team hat. This has led to a great avenue for companies, colleges, and professional sports teams to promote their organization.
Humans have covered their heads since the beginning of time. Initially headwear offered protection from the elements and from injury from weapons or masonry. Later hats (lids or caps) became status symbols, status of authority, an art form, or part of a uniform. Today, most “lids” are no longer for protection but worn for a special occasion or conversely as casual statement. Functional hats are still used by uniformed workers for corporate identity or protection as well as by many individuals in inclement weather. Individuals wear hats in cold weather and use sunhats in very sunny weather. It is unlikely that the hat will ever die as an accessory as it offers far too much potential for drawing attention to the face. Fashion designers are aware of this and every so often exploit this fact in the hope that fashion followers will adopt the hat.
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