Flying Hats

19 comments

When you ride the Q Express past 23rd street, these hats fly.

What does your hat say about you?

Extravagant hats were popular in the 1980s, and in the early 21st century, flamboyant hats made a comeback, with a new wave of competitive young milliners designing creations

In the first half of the 19th century, women wore bonnets that gradually became larger, decorated with ribbons, flowers, feathers, and gauze trims. By the end of the century, many other styles were introduced, among them hats with wide brims and flat crowns, the flower pot and the toque.

The term ‘milliner’ comes from the Italian city of Milan, where the best quality hats were made in the 18th century. Millinery was traditionally a woman’s occupation, with the milliner not only creating hats and bonnets but also choosing lace, trimmings and accessories to complete an outfit.

The first person to pull a rabbit out of a hat was French magician Louis Comte in 1814. He pulled the rabbit out from a top hat, over a decade after the shape made its debut in 1797.

Beavers almost went extinct in the mid-19th century because their pelts were so popularly used for hats. Thankfully, the popularity for beaver pelts declined once silk worms were introduced and silk hats entered the scene.

British hat designer Philip Treacy’s first clientele was his sister’s dolls. Today, Treacy is famous for his extravagant designs and a clientele that includes the Royal family, Alexander McQueen and Lady GaGa.

The word “fedora” comes from the title of an 1882 play by Victorien Sardou called Fédora. The hat was first worn by the play’s actress, Sarah Bernhardt, who played Princess Fédora.

Chef hats have pleats that each signify the way an egg can be prepared. At one time, a chef had up to 100 pleats in his hat, representing his skill set of 100 different ways he could prepare an egg. Today, chef hats have fewer pleats, but some hats still use the number of pleats to represent the chef’s level of experience.

21 Oct, 2014
9 likes

Comments

Klahanie

Very entertaining blog Bathgate, LOL.

21 Oct, 2014

Bathgate

I'm glad you like Klahanie...thanks!

21 Oct, 2014

Johnjoe

Well done Bathgate, what a lovley show of hat photos and history of hats.

21 Oct, 2014

Waddy

I love hats, unfortunately they don't like me. I always look as if I popped my head around the door and someone said 'oh, we forgot you' and threw the hat at me. I enjoyed looking at all the different ones in your blog.

21 Oct, 2014

Bathgate

You welcome Johnjoe. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Waddy: LOL - I firmly believe there is a hat somewhere in this world with your name on it. Thank you :)

21 Oct, 2014

Bloomer

An interesting blog and photo's Paul.thank you..I'm with Waddy on this ..and if ever my name was on a hat,I have yet to find it! ..Balaclava,maybe? Lol

22 Oct, 2014

Bathgate

LOL thanks Sandra, I'm glad you like it. Not sure about Balaclava - except if it had bunny ears attached lol

22 Oct, 2014

Bloomer

You trying to tell me something,Paul..just because i like Carrots ? Lol x

22 Oct, 2014

Bathgate

My carrots went bozonkas in my garden this year. I'll be happy to send you a bunch if you need them. lol xx

22 Oct, 2014

Bloomer

That would be good,Paul..Might help me see better ! Lol. glad yours did so well..:o) x

23 Oct, 2014

Bathgate

I have so many carrots, I'm starting to grow buck teeth! LOL. But I love them.

23 Oct, 2014

Gee19

My hat says 'it's raining'! That's the only time I wear one and then it's to keep my specs clear of rain so I can see where I'm going. Very colourful and entertaining blog, thank you :)

23 Oct, 2014

Bathgate

LOL thanks Gee19! I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)

23 Oct, 2014

Lincslass

Last hat I wore was a silly white one I had to wear at work, ruined the hairstyle completely, only consolation was the fact that the men had to wear them as well and they looked dafter than the ladies...I did treat myself to a very good gardening hat years ago, unfortunately its tucked away in my wardrobe and like my kneeling pad and gardening gloves its in very pristine condition, I'll let you make your own mind up as to what that says about me, lol....
Very good read I found the facts you gave really interesting and liked all the photo's as well....

26 Oct, 2014

Bathgate

Gardening hat? I just wear the all-purpose handy-dandy baseball cap. The last one I had was so comfortable I wore it on the Cyclone Rollercoaster at Coney Island - and as the train crested the first hill, my hat flew, never to be seen again. It could be in the Atlantic Ocean, LOL. I'm glad you enjoyed the blog. Thank you for your comment :)

27 Oct, 2014

Lindak

Amazing mosaics. I wear different hats, soft feltie ones in the winter and baseball types to keep the sun from my eyes in the summer. Perhaps your lost hat is still being worn by someone if they found it.

2 Dec, 2014

Bathgate

It's wonderful to think my hat may have a second life on somebody else's head. I hope it's being well taken care of.

2 Dec, 2014

Lindak

I look a bit like Miss Marple with my felt hats on. LOL.

3 Dec, 2014

Bathgate

3 Dec, 2014

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