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Brimming with IdeasWHY WE WEAR HATS
(I do not know the source for this article, but I want to acknowledge the fact I did not write it or even necessarily agree with it. It is simply one perspective among many).
Humans have covered their heads since time immemorial. Initially head wear offered protection from the elements and from injury from falling rocks, weapons or masonry. Later head coverings became symbols of status of authority. Soon after hats progressed to become not only a uniform, but also an art form.
In fashion terms, hats are a very noticeable accessory because the onlooker’s attention is first drawn to the face. A hat is the most noticeable fashion item anyone can wear. The old saying goes 'if you want to get ahead and get noticed, then get a hat'. Indeed the word 'ahead' means just that one head further forward.
About 85% of body heat is lost through the head, so in inclement conditions it is important to cover the head. Babies in particular lose heat rapidly through the head thus ensuring a baby or toddler has a warm covered head in winter is important.
Etiquette and formality have played their part in hat wearing. At the turn of the 20th century in 1900, both men and women changed their hats dependant on their activity, but for many ladies of some social standing it would be several times a day.
Etiquette articles suggest that it would be a disgraceful act to venture out of the house without a hat or even gloves. One record tells of a young lady venturing out to post a letter without her hat and gloves and being severely reprimanded for not being appropriately dressed. The post box was situated a few yards from her front garden gate.
In the Edwardian age it did not matter if you were poor or rich, old or a child; whatever the status a person wore a hat, only beggars went bareheaded. Even militant suffragettes did not campaign without a hat. The hat would be fairly functional in style and form, but a hat was still worn.
As the years have passed, hats have slowly lost favor, even for weddings and worship with only a proportion of the congregations donning them. They have never been worn universally since the 1920s. They were popular again in the 1980s for weddings and special occasions after the Princess of Wales, Diana used them to add a sense of sophistication to her persona in the early days of her marriage. Once she found her confidence she abandoned hats for most occasions.
Hats when worn today are either worn for a special dressy occasion such as a wedding or conversely as casual statement attire in the way that caps might be worn the wrong way around. Functional hats are still used by uniformed workers for corporate identity or protection as well as by many individuals in inclement weather. Individuals wear fur hats or simple fleece beanie hats in very cold weather and use sunhats in very sunny weather. Those who cannot bear a hat unwittingly adopt a hat form built into a garment, as in a hoodie casual zip top.
It is unlikely that the hat will ever die as an accessory as it offers far too much potential for drawing attention to the face. Fashion designers are aware of this and every so often exploit this fact in the hope that fashion followers will adopt the hat. In the world of logos, branding and status symbols the hat is an easy and usually less costly item to purchase from a design house and can make them a great deal of money if a particular item catches the imagination of the public. Often it advertises the company name.
Unfortunately the fact that a hat being relatively small is more easily affordable by the masses, means that every so often an item like the Burberry cap found itself eventually banned from certain social venues as it became associated with poor street and pub and club behavior. Recently Burberry withdrew this hat in order to disassociate itself from those who wore it as a uniform that gave the message bad boys.
Be all tHAT as it may The Hat Ladies believe like the Plaza Suite, luxurious, flirty, and at times a bit sexy. We’re out to prove a great hat can change your day.