Cossack Hat

This is a Russian army cossack hat

Made from sheepskin, this tall cylinder of fur is joined at the top with a fabric circle emblem.

This hat is also known as a Papakha in Russia however there are two different styles of Papakha, this one is the Papaha, the other is the Kubanka which is a shorter version, but basically the same.

The Cossacks were an independent nation which got integrated into the Russian nation, not in a good way, so the Cossack army fought against Russia, for Russia, played both sides, helped and hindered the Germans WWII, helped and hindered the Americans in WWII, helped the British fight communism and much more.

The Cossack Army ceased to exist after World war II, however, a law was passed just before the end of 20th Century as the Soviet Union ended allowing Cossack to exist again and they now deal with local Administration. 

They still wear this style of hat 

Camo Ushanka

This camo pattern ushanka is probably a perfect hunting hat, however never been hunting so could be worst hunting hat ever for all I know.

Also for some reason the double ear flaps I find make this hat a little comical, but they may have a purpose, perhaps to protect the ears for the noise of the gun or just extra ear warmth.

Ear flaps up and away

False Fur

This fake fur trapper hat would no doubt keep your head warm in a blizzard. 

 Not being real fur helps with comfort although probably not by much, I suppose being fake it's more flexible and soft on the inside than a real fur hat.

A real fur trapper hat made from the pelt of the North American/Canadian hunters prey would probably look more like a coonskin hat.  

Sheepskin Hat

This trapper style hat is made of sheepskin, ideal to keep your head warm on a cold windy day

I've talked about trapper hats before and so don't have a lot more to say, so just follow the labels for trapper hat.

The ear flaps tie up.

Skull Past

This wool felt skull cap is one of my oldest hats

Made from 8 triangles of fabric sewn together

Now a chance to scan some old photos of me wearing the skull cap

Above me as part of mummers play

Below me in shorts at a music festival

Below me doing theatrical mediaeval reenactment at Warwick Castle

Not worn much recently, but one that got worn often.

Zucchetto Like

This skull cap is on the edge of being a zucchetto however zucchettos are typically much shallower, resting rather than clinging to the head.

The hat also does not include the little stem or cord that comes out of the centre of the hat where the panels meet.

Still, the 8 panelled cap is traditional for a zucchetto and the bright red colour makes it look a very religious hat.

Skull caps are one of those hats that don't really offer any practical use other than their aesthetic purpose.

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.

Homburg

The Homburg hat is the hat famously worn by Winston Churchill and popular with Gangsters.

The homburg is a formal hat that started to become worn from around 1890 when people like King Edward VII wore one.

Dwight Eisenhower and Anthony Eden also famously wore the Homburg as did Al Pachino in Gangster films which resulted in gaining the nickname the Godfather

The hat is identified by a single dent running down the centre of the crown, called a gutter crown, a darker coloured band around the bottom of the crown and stiff curled up brim. 

It is a wool felt hat that usually comes in dark colour, grey is the most popular  

The hat gets its name from Bad Homburg a district in Germany where Edward VII brought the hat back to Britain from. 

I don't own a cigar, so went for the pipe for my photos.