Red Nightcap

This is the red version of the Libriarians Hat I posted a few years ago, an elasticated nightcap style hat

This one in my opinion feels a bit more Asian, probably the colours

While nightcap in style its not a cap I would to bed, the fabric is not soft or insulating and the headband would not be comfortable overnight, one to wear to for LRP only.

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.

Way of the Dragon

Yet another oriental novelty hat

I now have 4 of these hats in different colours, they are all basically the same pattern, even the badge is the same symbol.

This style of hat I believe originates from the Chinese Qing Dynasty.

The best thing about these hats is they are cheap.

Bad Scholars Hat

Dunce's hat

The dunce's hat was given to children in Victorian schools as a punishment to pupils who were disruptive, clowned around and did not want to learn.

The hat was traditionally a tall white cardboard cone and painted with a big D or the word dunce.

As well as wearing the hat the children were made to stand in a corner and left to be mocked by their fellow pupils.

I'm not sure this tactic or punishment actually worked as I suspect the children made to wear the cap did not care, were made class heroes, but even more likely they probably had some actual real learning difficulty which the Victorian teachers had no way of understanding or were trained to deal with.

Academics Hat

The Mortaboard, Square Cap, Corner Cap, Oxford Cap

The Mortarboard cap named after bricklayers tool for holding mortar or perhaps it was the other way round not sure.

This style of cap dates back at least as far 16th Century where it was used in the uniform of those attending universities in Europe, forms of this hat go back even further were its seen in Italian paintings of 15th Century. 

In the past, this form of hats was the default hat for the teaching profession and mandatory uniform at Oxford University. Now the mortarboard is seen across the worlds colleges and university, mostly in graduation ceremonies, were once the ceremony is over its thrown into the air.

A Hat for Scholar

This is sort of brimless cloth hat is a bit odd, it could have been worn in any period from the 13th to 19th century, although I've grouped it in the so-called renaissance, 16th C period

The hat is made like a muffin cap with an abundance of material fixed to a smaller headband, this one is made so the headband becomes hidden when worn.

The fabric green in colour is slightly eccentric style make this something that could be worn by a medieval scholar or a poet

Found for £2 in the bargain bin at a lrp fair

Chinese Style

A basic novelty Chinese style merchant skull cap see in many a Hong Kong movie

Worn also by nobles, wealthy children.

Novelty hats of this style can be found all over eBay and the like for well under £10 

Librarian Hat

I have named this hat a Librarians hat, as I think it has a scholarly look however it's not mortar board which is a hat most associated with scholars.

A basic cotton cone of fabric with an elasticated brim to hold it comfortably and firmly on the head

 The hat is decorated with decorative fabric tape/bias binding/trim.

This is a version of a Nightcap, perhaps a bit baggier than normal.

Enter the Dragon

A round Chinese wealthy merchant, scholar or nobleman's skull cap.

Sometimes called Water Mellon caps on some sellers sites. 

I wear this hat to play triad or oriental noble characters.

In the photo below I'am taking part in a larp based enter the dragon competition called Death Match.

(further photos at bottom of post)

This a fancy dress hat with a pre-attached pigtail of a style worn by Kwan Tak-hing in Enter the Dragon. Its made of cardboard then covered in fabric, their are similar fancy dress just made of fabric that sit uncomfortably on the head, this one is fine to wear.

The pigtail seems to have grown in modern copies of this hat from tassels that denoted ranks, often by expensive beads woven into the tassel or the number or colour of the tassels.

In this hat the tassel is much longer than it should be that why its more of a pig tail.