Shell Covered Hat

 A shell-covered pill box-shaped hat.

The hat is heading towards Fez shape but doesn't quite make it.

The main decoration of this hat is the sea shells, some form of sea snail shells I think.

Applied in geometric patterns they give this hat a unique look.

Also come complete with a tassel.

I believe it's a one-off, but could be wrong.

Masonic Hat 2

 I now have 2 masonic hats, this one is superior in quality to the previous one

This was a gift from someone who was part of the Freemasons or just Masons

The red one previously posted about sported a Knights Templar cross, but this new one has a Maltese cross so could be for a different order.

Masonic hats when you search online seem to come in many different shapes although like this one they are predominantly pillbox shaped hats.

It's the badge rather than the hat that matters since that is an item that ties it to the lodge and his rank. 

I say his since in my 30 seconds of research I don't believe they allow women to join, although it does say there are 2 females only lodges in the UK.

Steampunk freemason

Sindhi Cap

The Sindhi cap 

This is a hat worn mainly by people in Balochistan Sindh and by Pashtun people that live in Pakistan and Afghanistan. 

It is a part of Sindhi and Saraiki culture.

In Sindhi culture, the hat is given as a gift of respect.

Fully authentic Sindhi caps are handwoven and involve many hours of hard work  

Intricate patterns are embroidered on the hat, and very often small pieces of mirror and gemstones are also sewed into it.  

The hat is almost a typical pillbox shape, (similar to a smoking cap or Kufi hats) the big difference is the arched shape cut out in the front to expose part of the forehead.

 

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

Kufi Cap

This is well-worn Kufi style cap I got as part of a eBay hat bid last year.

This cap has a colourful brim folded up only around 2/3rds of its diameter making it unusual.

I happy to wear it back to front as the above image, it works either way in my opinion.

When I took these photos I did not realise one side of the turn-up brim was distorted, a quick iron or stitch will fix this.

Looking at the hat know I'm wondering what the hat would look like with its folded up section folded down.

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. 

Masonic Hat

This red hat is a hat worn by members of the modern Freemasons

It was given as a gift by a friend who is a member, I have no idea what rank or role the hat is for, if indeed you need a rank to wear it.

The hat is basically a felt covered stiffened ring of card or thin plastic with felt stretch over the crown, it's very lightweight but well made and still feels sturdy. 

Freemasons are an organization that originated in medieval times, as a body that controlled and looked after local stonemason and represented them with the local bureaucracy. Nowadays they are a ritualised group that helps businessmen network and do charity work. 

They are often associated with a degree of conspiracy due to there requirement that each rank keeps the knowledge of what they learn as they progress secret from the ranks below.

Greeky Fez

This hat reminds me of one worn by Greek soldier in full dress uniform, look up Evzones and you will see what I mean.

The hat is halfway between a fez and a smoking cap, with a very long tassel.

This is a theatrical hat, one made for use in a theatre production I don't know what production, only it was sold as such on e-bay.

Made of soft red felt, I would put it the head of small Greek curiosity shop owner.

Scary Clown

This colourful Kufi hat is worn the image below with colourful dreadlocks when I played a freaky clown at a recent event.

Hats like this come in many varieties, the shape is what puts it in the pill box group, the colour and decoration is what determine other things such, decorated with sequins and embroidery would probably make it a smoking cap, made of felt might make a medieval cap, in this case the fabric colours/pattern means its a kufi hat.

Kufi

This hat was picked up for £2 from Tewkesbury apparently a BBC drama prop, crushed at the bottom of a box it needs a bit of attention to bring it back to shape.

A Kufi hat is a traditional men's hat worn people in Africa or those of African heritage living in the US, the hat has no religious significance can be worn by Christian, Muslim or those who follow The Force.

Kufi hats are usually made of kente cloth, mudcloth, or knitted/crocheted and pill boxed shaped