Bowler or Derby

I was recently informed my Bowler hat was in fact a Derby, now I always believed Bowler, Derby and its many other names Coke Hat, Boxer, Billy Cock, were all names for the same thing and for all useful purpose bar riding they still are.

The Bowler was first made and designed in 1850 by William Bowler for Sir William Coke for head protection when riding. The Derby got its name when the 12th Earl of Derby visited the United States in a hat of this style in 1880 and created a fashion there, so could be classed as the America name for Bowler.

Anyway if your looking for a difference a Bowler is hard and rigid, while the dome of the Derby Hat can be bent easily with the fingers, both are the same shape. 

This hat is therefore a derby bowler.

All fashionable goblins (above) wear bowler hats as do steampunk man servants (below)

Commander Hunter of Death Angel Squad

This is a leather covered steampunk or hell angel novelty helmet

I bought it off ebay its well made, good buckles and lining, comfortable but doubt it would actually be suitable head protection for a biker, but that's not what helm is about anyway.

This helm apparently gets a thumb up. 

Steampunk Top Hat

This my steampunk mad hatter top hat

Top hats can also be known as Beaver hats, High hats, Cylinder hats, Chimney Pot hats or Stove pipe hats, however I would definitely call this one a TOP hat

Its got a leathery oily feel to the fabric, size 59 which is bit big (by 1 size) for my head, lucky for me my ears keep it up well.

I think this hat will need a slightly insane character in my larp adventures to wear it.

Hard Hats = Hats stiffened in some way so they are no longer bend, this may be through steaming, pressing or adding a rigid material.