About Vintage Men's Hats

Vintage men's hats recall a day of higher fashion and more gentile society. Whether it's an old top hat or pork pie hat, a European military hat or beret, a vintage men's hat brings history into present day in the form of felt, silk or canvas. Collectors may display the hats on a rack on the wall or in a glass case to highlight some aspect of their genealogy or family history and can find hats at nearly any antique mall or market.

History

Head coverings were originally used for weather protection and warmth. Early man fashioned head coverings out of animal furs and woven plant material to protect himself from the elements.
As civilization advanced, so did the purpose of the men's hat. The hat quickly became a part of classifying a person's rank in a tribe or clan, including the elaborate headdresses of Native American Indian warriors, elders and shamans in a tribe.
Hats didn't really flourish as an accessory until the 14th an 15th centuries. The materials for men's hats also became much diversified in the 15th century and including silk, fur, velvet and felt.

Function

Hats offer both protection and style and vintage hats help to define an era's costumes and concerns in a concrete way. Vintage men's hats can also offer style to modern day men who want to create a unique personal look. Collecting vintage men's hats gives the collector an item that shows the wear and lifestyle of the previous owner and hints at the experiences of the time period. Especially true with military caps, collecting vintage men's hats is a great way to touch and experience history.

Types

Men's vintage hats come in many different types varying by location, era and materials.
The Capotain hat was developed during the early 1600's and originated in Spain. This was a tall, brimmed hat made of black felt.
The Sugar Loaf hat has a high crown and brim popular in the mid 1600's. Worn famously by the Puritans it is a highly recognizable vintage hat.
The Tricorne hat is a three cornered hat worn in the 18th century Europe, and the Bicorne hat was a two ended hat that was worn mostly by the educated and upper classes of the later 1700's.
The mid 1800's brought about the popular bowler hat also known as the Coke Hat, which developed into the softer styled hats like the pork pie and panama hats. There are also fedoras which continue to be a classic for men.
Other than felt or light weight fabric hats, there are hats that are woven of straw or other plant material but they don't often survive years of wear.
The last type of men's hat that a vintage hat collector may look for are military "lids" or uniform hats. Widely available and a good variety of styles depending on the country and branch of the military, these are easily collected and found in antique malls.

Geography

Vintage men's hats are available all over the world and offer a collector thousands of styles and materials to choose to build their collections around. European hats can be gathered from France and Germany and can include military hats plus head wear from aristocratic societies.
In the United States, vintage hats can be found at any antique mall or flea market and may include the easy to find bowler or fedora styled hats and military caps.

Considerations

When purchasing a vintage hat check the fabric and liner carefully. Old felt hats can have water or bug damage and may need to be cleaned of dust or mildew.

Resources

• the hatsite.com
• hathistory.org