A brown fedora on a black background. The fedora can be quite controversial in the hat community and its meaning and symbolism has changed quite a bit since it first became popular. Illustration by Will Lowe.
Hats: they’ve been worn for thousands of years by those far and wide. One of the very first hats was worn by a man we now refer to as Otzi or “the Iceman.” He lived in the Alps between Austria and Italy. Otzi was unique for several reasons, one being that he was an extremely well preserved mummy who lived around 5000 years ago. The other being that he was found clothed with a hat made of bearskin and a leather chin strap, making him the first hat wearer that historians know of.
There are many types of hats all worn for different reasons. Perhaps it’s a tricorn, a hat with three corners that are turned up to the sky, famously worn by George Washington as he crossed the Delaware River. Maybe it’s a sunhat worn while gardening, keeping the sun off your face, neck, and ears. However, there will always be hats that are, simply put, lacking. This could be for several reasons: maybe they just don’t look good. Maybe they don’t have any history or purpose, and only exist because somebody thought, “Hey, you know what would be funny?” Hats like those are my least favorite. For example, hats like the British King’s Guard hats that serve zero military purpose. They are solely a tourist attraction, still around because of tradition.
But, on the other side of the hat-tastic spectrum, there are gorgeous hats that used to, or still do, serve a purpose, look good, and have historical significance. See the bicorn — similar to the tricorn — but with only two corners instead of three, famously worn by Napoleon. This hat can have varying intensities in the shape, and was thought to originate between 1813 and 1815 as part of the military uniform in Europe and America. This hat has both history and a purpose, but does it look good? Well, opinions on that vary greatly depending on who you’re talking to. I think the large version that Napoleon wore is absolutely disgusting visually, but maybe it boosted his ego like it boosted his height. However, the ones worn by military officers have a bit of style to them seeing as they’re smaller and less pointy.
Another example of a hat that checks all three of my boxes is the baseball cap. First introduced in April of 1849, it was worn to keep the sun out of baseball players’ eyes while on the field. As for looks, I think there’s no way to go wrong with one of the most classic hats around. The simple bill and the rounded top that can be fitted to nearly any head makes for, in my opinion, one of the best hats. However, what is printed or sewn into the top of the hat can change my view of them quickly. “Baseball caps can either be pretty good or awful depending [on] what’s on them,” says Nic Putnam, a junior at Franklin, and fellow hat enthusiast. An overly political design, for example, would quickly change my mind. Hats aren’t places for political or moral discussion.
There are a few exceptions to my three main criteria for the best hat. For example, the bowler hat. This hat was created with the purpose of a helmet for horseback riders, so they were not hurt on branches while riding. They originally wore top hats, however these got continuously knocked off and damaged by said branches. The bowler hat became popular among working class people before it shifted and grew in popularity among business attire. It has a rich history, yet I feel it is drastically lacking in the looks department. Nothing suits a face less than a sphere on top of your head. Despite its visual flaws, this hat checks off the history and purpose boxes for me, putting this towards the top of my hat list.
Regardless of your stance on any specific type of hat, it’s important to express yourself however makes you happiest. “I usually wear a pork pie, which … looks and feels nice,” explains Putnam. There is no bad or good hat or headwear. Maybe you’re a fan of a classic beanie, or prefer something more stylish and formal like the top hat; whatever it is, it’s yours to wear. So when you wear a hat, really own it, because it makes your style unique to you.
