This photo of me was taken at Whitby where I spent the evening wondering about in a steampunk goth festival held there every year.
Top hats first appeared at the end of the 18th century and were very much an upper class status symbol or funeral hat worn by men, the best ones are silk rather than felt.
This hat is slightly battered ex-wedding top hat, the sort you pick up from a car boot for under five pounds.
This hat is 1/4" too big for me, but not complaining, cost next to nothing and does not fall over the ears, just uncomfortable to wear for long periods.
More about top varieties in a later posts
