Introduction

Hats have always played an integral part in fashion history. From popular hairstyles to social trends, hats have always played an essential role. So let’s examine the evolution of European hats today!

Middle Ages – 16th century

We cannot accurately determine when humans began to wear hats, but since primitive times, people have been wearing hats to protect themselves from the cold. At that time, people were not able to make exquisite hats, so they wrapped their heads with cloth. For a period of time, the church even issued a decree requiring people to cover their hair, and many simple and unsophisticated hat styles began to appear, as shown in the picture above.

Before the Middle Ages

During this period, a kind of hat similar to a turban ( Wimple)appeared. It was usually worn by ladies when going out or participating in religious activities. The nun’s hat is very similar to this one.

In the 15th century

In the 15th century, when Gothic fashion style reached its peakt, the Hennin Hat began to appear. It was a tall conical hat with a long veil attached to the top.

In the 16th century

In this century, university professors wore black woolen hats with horns, which became the prototype of the modern university student’s quadrangular hat. Catholics wore a hat called BIRETTA. This slightly funny-looking hat later evolved into a beret. It’s hard to believe.

Seventeenth century

Later, hats had more obvious class meanings: citizens wore dark hats, yellow hats represented bankrupts, prisoners wore paper hats, kings wore golden crowns, etc. At the same time, people began to have an extremely exaggerated worship of the height of their heads.

In the 17th century, various types of flat hats became popular, and the tricorn hat, which was popular in Britain,became popular throughout Europe. However, with the French Revolution, the tricorn hat was replaced by the two-cornered hat.

Eighteenth century

At this time, the royal family, in addition to loving tall hats, also began to admire braided hair and wigs (Big Hair Style). It is said that professional braiders at that time would first build a hair ladder according to the owner’s needs, and then braid along the bamboo ladder. After braiding, they would design appropriate hats and decorations on it, such as vegetable baskets, fruits or sailboats.

The most commonly used hat in the 18th century was the hood. Calash made of linen or silk became popular and was only worn by noble ladies.

19th century – present

Starting in 1840 , the size of hats on people’s heads suddenly declined dramatically. Hats suddenly became more modest, and remained quiet for several years. Until now, the shape of hats has focused on function and mobility. Only in extremely important occasions such as the annual horse race among British aristocrats, some more exaggerated hat shapes occasionally appear.

The representative hat for men in the 19th century was the Top hat(Silkhat).The bowler(also calledcoke hatwhich was similar in shape to the modern Zhongshan hat, wasthe next most popular hat. (The choice of gentlemen)

During this period, the brims of women’s hats became wider and ornate decorations began to be widely used. The French learned about life and aesthetics hundreds of years ago.

In the mid-to-late 19th century

During this period, women’s hats gradually became smaller, showing their faces more clearly. Hats associated with Napoleon III’s empress Eugenie became popular.

Around World War I

CLOCHE hats became popular along with short hair.

From the early 1930s to World War II

The Military Look was popular, which made small hats popular during this period.

The NEW Look released by Christian Dior in 1947 had a great impact on clothing culture. People began to wear wide-brimmed hats at an angle. Small berets also appeared during this period. (Dior at that time was more fashionable than we are now)

The emergence and popularity of baseball caps in the 20th century can be recorded in history. They are practical, beautiful, easy to wear, and can be worn by even older people. Many people also use baseball caps as a means of self-expression.

Seeing this, simply speaking, the existence of hats has a lot to do with the customs of the times. In the past, few people walked on the street without hats, but now it is becoming less and less. Think about fashion, although it is mass-produced, there is still a demand for customization, but the special craftsmanship of hats and shoemakers is gradually being lost…