Sequined Cap

This the sequined covered cap, came as part of the same hat haul as the previous post.

This was the leisure cap of some flamboyant magician I'm sure.

Now, what's the difference between this what I call a Smoking cap (Leisure cap) and a Kufi hat, both are colourful pillbox hats of a similar size and shape.

Smoking caps are European, the colour comes from the decoration, embroidery, sequins, tassels applied usually to a rich velvety fabric. 

Kufi caps are African, the colour comes from the highly patterned base fabric rather than a plain decorated base fabric 

and that's the difference in its most basic form, although there are many exceptions to the rule and ones that could fall into both categories

Engineers Leisure Cap

This leather oil-stained pillbox hat was found in a pile of bric-a-brac quite a few years ago

It makes a perfect hat for a dieselpunk or steampunk engineer.

Made of thin leather with a calico lining.

I think I need a few better photos wearing a nice distressed costume to go with the hat, however, I've been thinking that for 4 years, so its time to post these pictures rather than wait. 

Square Cornered Hat

This is one of those hats that I'm having trouble categorising as it was donated, its origin was as a gift to a friend visiting Japan, however, the hat is not Japanese. 

The hat is well made with a tapestry pattern on display.

Inside the hat is a label which google translate fails to recognise, so not sure of the language, something Asian.

This hat is too rigid to be a comfortable Leisure cap, its similar in some ways to Birretta, mostly its unique, at least to me. 

NEW 3rd October 2020 - Finally found what I believe this hat to be, its called an Uzbek Duppi Cap or Uzbek Doppa cap

Smokey Green

Another smoking or leisure cap, this time in green and orange to match the coat and shirt, or did I buy the coat and shirt to match the hat.

This one is complete with the essential tassel. 

Alternate name I have seen recently for this hat is a Thinking Cap, this was on one vendors web site and can find no other places this style of hat is associated with the name thinking cap. 

In word definitions its says 1st know use of thinking cap was 1847 but reflecting on this I can't think why you need to know that.

This hat came from barefoot leather although is not leather.

I don't Smoke so this is a Leisure Cap

The smoking cap is a hat designed to be worn indoors, whilst not Victorian in origin that is the period I mostly associate with them.

Smoking Cap is pill box hat that is usually worn with a smoking jacket which is thick short velvet or silk jacket.

They were worn by high class gentlemen while drinking port or brandy and smoking Turkish cigarettes & cigars home, both the cap and jacket where worn to stop normal cloths and hair smelling of smoke, they also keep the head warm.

The decorated smoking caps as I'm wearing here is a result Victorian men's sweethearts using their leisure hours to stitch and embroider these caps whilst they were fighting in Crimean war.

Smoking caps became high fashion after dinner wear in the Victorian period, today they are making come back with men and women, however someone has suggested they should now be called the more politically correct 'Leisure Cap'.