A Hat for a Character.

This post is not about a tricorn but about a much loved hat.

If any hat qualifies as well worn, this one does, worn over many weekends for last 15 years.

I will say this hat is extremely comfortable.

This is good quality felt tricorn and cost a £ 80 quid or more back when purchase at the end of the last century.

Its been through many fights, been trod on, crushed in the back of car, survived horrendous rainstorms, snow and regularly deals with sand and sweat, its loosing its shape a bit, the crown as lost its stiffness but survives.

The photo above is fairly current taken about 5 months ago, as you can see its not in too a bad condition, the hat not me that is.

 I think its doing so well, simply because it was quality hat to start with.

The early years of the hat it had a black band as above.

I later added a purple band and emblem as the character it belongs to costume mutated as below

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'.

Sherlock Holmes Left His Hat Behind

The deerstalker through its association with Sherlock Holmes has become stereotypical headgear for early detectives. 

Its a hat is also still used in rural areas of Britain but dates from the Victorian era when you wore correct fashion to do your deer hunting.

The deerstalker was possibly first associated with the character of Sherlock Holmes in a 1899 play, but it was a book cover illustration that probably cemented the two together. Although it may have been several Basil Rathbones films that final pegged them permanently together.

Made of usually of tweed with its distinctive fore and aft brims and ear flaps that are usually seen tied up at the top of the hat rather than over the ears and tied under the chin.

Christmas Gifts, Hat Themed

This year I received a few hat themed gift for Christmas.

Starting with a knitted knights helmet from the Crazy Terry's complete with moveable visor.

The helmet will stop all blows to any self pride you have.

The next gift from fellow larper and friend Dom is a miniature Spanish style conquistadors Comb Marion helmet made of metal but 1/3rd scale.

I did try to balance it on top of my head but the photo came out blurred.

Not least but a proper hat that will used, is the one below, I best describe this as a cavaliers hat although perhaps a wider brim is order, decorated by Dave and Julie and presented to me by their daughter who was as excited to give it to me as I was to receive it.

Goes well with red Christmas present jumper.

Also jumping into the photo BB8

Last while digging out my Christmas wrapping a week or so ago I came across my old sallet which I thought I had sold see this post here.

A little bit rustier and the straps had rotted, I must have packed it away while damp.

Santa hat

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM RICHARD IN A HAT

I have no photographic evidence to prove Santa Claus ever wore this style of hat, but I've seen enough Christmas films to know its true.

Not having a Santa costume I had to improvise with photo shop

Before

After

Santa's Helpers

In this hat I become one of Santa Clause helpers, a Elf.

Here you see me singing jingle bells to myself, oh what fun I have :)

This hats similar to a night cap.

Unfortunately this hat is made of a horrible hessian fabric that makes my head itch like crazy so its not one to wear often or for long.

All around my hat I will wear the Green Willow

This a great fun felt festival hat, I think it would be brilliant for Morris Dancing or perhaps just for standing out from the norm should you want to.

This hat fell into my hands while at Tewkesbury Medieval festival, I walked by the stall selling it several times thinking I don't need this hat but it kept punching me in the eye saying "buy me, buy me", like some hats do, and I have a very low resistance.

When I put this hat on for some reason I want to sing All around my hat I will wear the Green Willow (see here if don't know what I mean) and dance around my living room.

I Just Need a Stormy Sea

This is what's known as Sou'wester 

A practical hat used by seaman for protection against rough wet weather, The brim is wide and slanted basically designed to stop rain running off it down the collar of your coat. 

A good chin strap also keeps it in place in high winds.

The name Sou'wester potentially comes from the South Westerly winds which brought rough seas, this may have some truth, but I can't find anything to back the claim up.

In some countries its just called a fisherman's cap, however they are not necessarily the same thing as as Sou'wester for example they are not needed to be fully waterproof.

Sou'wester are made of oilskin which can any be fabric made waterproof but is traditionally canvass covered in linseed oil or tar this one however is 100% PVC but works fine.