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

Havelock Fitting

The havelock helmet cover is basically a bit of fabric that fits over the whole helmet including any brim

The cover has an elasticated edge

Which you simple stretch over the helmet, so it takes a couple of seconds at the most to fit.

Some have a drawstring to the edge which does the same function as the elastic, just a bit more fiddly

This one unfortunately also included its own peak which did not compromise the fit but did look a little odd once fitted.

The Havelock also came with a selection of 3 different press-stud on pompoms so you can change the appearance a bit.

Havelock with Pompom

Havelocks were originally created for military use, but they are also used to decorate other helmets, this particular havelock was designed to decorate kids riding helmets.

However, because it was a kids helmet cover it was cheap and allowed me to take a few photos and explain a bit about a havelock.

It also came with pompons which you could press stud onto the top.  

Not sure if I could argue a case for use of pompoms for military use

Havelock

 A Havelock is not a hat, it's a hat cover or to be more accurate a helmet cover

Mainly used by the military to change the look for say a blue UN peacekeeping or to a different camouflage pattern of the helmet without the need to repaint or swap helmets.

Havelocks get their name from the British General Henry Havelock, invented originally to protect the wearer from the sun.

The image below Before and After the cover was fitted

Play Hat

 This not a play hat but a hat from a play, was used for a production of the King and I

Homemade from a cardboard tube, covered in shiny fabric and sequins. 

Held on to the head with an elastic chin strap since the diameter is too small for and adult.

Came as part of job lot of hats but I think this is one only suitable for the bin, not worth saving for anything.

Black Fedora

This hat today will be a Fedora.

There are way too many definitions of what Trilby or Fedora should be often conflicting with each other to do with brim size, brim flatness, pointiness, even smartness, I just get confused everyone has a different opinion and most hats end up sitting somewhere between the two even then.

Is this a wide brim making it fedora, the brim is rolled so maybe a trilby, it's not pointy at the front so more fedora, probably on balance a fedora.

This hat was gifted to me and has not been worn much yet.

However a good and comfortable fit.

Ninja Hood

 I call this a Ninja hood, but not sure what it really is or where it came from, I think it's actually a Halloween horror mask.

The hood has a mesh net sewn in over the face and the rim around the mesh put the rest of your face in shadow.

Which is easy to see out of but hides the identity of the face behind it.

Not only that the black hood with the mesh darkening your face make you invisible in the dark when combined with other black clothing.

So ideal for raiding an oriental castle on a moonless night.

Hairhat

 This is a third wig, third hat, third headband.

I suppose for the balding gentleman its the ideal hat for imitating an 80s tennis player.

Pointed out to me by a work colleague I just had to have one and they come in several colours so you can match your hair colour, this colour turned out to be a good match.

I think this hat makes me look several days younger and intend to wear it to embarrass myself whenever I can.

Even the cat is not impressed.

Described as wig hat, they come nice and cheap all the way from China