Monday, 25 February 2019

Zucchetto Like

This skull cap is on the edge of being a zucchetto however zucchettos are typically much shallower, resting rather than clinging to the head.

The hat also does not include the little stem or cord that comes out of the centre of the hat where the panels meet.


Still, the 8 panelled cap is traditional for a zucchetto and the bright red colour makes it look a very religious hat.


Skull caps are one of those hats that don't really offer any practical use other than their aesthetic purpose.



Saturday, 16 February 2019

Biretta


The Biretta is a hat that moves from the circular hat band into a 4 cornered squarish shape.



The corners are called horns, they may have 3 or 4 horns and the horns can be small like this or quite large and flamboyant.


The hats are worn by priests in the Catholic and Anglican church and also as academics hats in universities, usually denoting someone with a doctorate.


When worn by Bishops or denote ranks the hats can also get extra adornments such as pompoms.


Biretta is also optional head wear for female barristers in England and Wales.



The history of Biretta stretches back at least as far as the 10th Century.


Saturday, 9 February 2019

Homburg


The Homburg hat is the hat famously worn by Winston Churchill and popular with Gangsters.


The homburg is a formal hat that started to become worn from around 1890 when people like King Edward VII wore one.


Dwight Eisenhower and Anthony Eden also famously wore the Homburg as did Al Pachino in Gangster films which resulted in gaining the nickname the Godfather


The hat is identified by a single dent running down the centre of the crown, called a gutter crown, a darker coloured band around the bottom of the crown and stiff curled up brim. 


It is a wool felt hat that usually comes in dark colour, grey is the most popular  


The hat gets its name from Bad Homburg a district in Germany where Edward VII brought the hat back to Britain from. 


I don't own a cigar, so went for the pipe for my photos.



Saturday, 2 February 2019

Musketeers Hat

This theatrical hat is designed to look like a Cavaliers or Musketeers hat from the 17th Century.


Cavaliers hats get their name from supporters of Kings Charles I during the English Civil War whereas Musketeers Hats get there name from the personal musket wielding bodyguard of King Louise XIII. Both were known for wearing extravagant clothing including hats like this one but decorated with ostrich feathers. 



This wide-brimmed style of hat usually was cocked up on one side or both, one side of the brim was often pinned totally up.



The theatrical hat here is made of sponge covered material, with a wire frame and covered in velvety fabric with a bit of trim. 

Nothing like the real thing which should be made of felt


This hat cost me about 1 pound as part of a batch of hats.

I will get a nice authentic Cavaliers hat one day.