A hat - a headdress with a crown and brim - not only protects from the wind or sun, but adds a touch of sophistication and moderate modesty to any outfit. This accessory complements a business look or a party suit; it is ideal for walking in the summer heat and protects against autumn storms. In a word, such a wardrobe item deserves to “settle” on the closet shelf for a long time.
Another remarkable invention, which also became the prototype for today's hats, was created in the Middle Ages in Europe. In 1395, the French Queen Isabella of Bavaria came up with an unusual conical-shaped headdress, which is known to historians as the “gennin”. Its dimensions were impressive: the height of the cone reached one meter (for princesses). The ladies of the court made do with a more modest accessory, the cone of which rose 60 centimeters above their heads.
In the 15th-16th centuries, straw hats became fashionable among the European nobility. Around the same time, they began to be decorated with pheasant feathers.If a person was guilty, plucked feathers of forest birds were attached to his headdress as punishment.
In the 16th century, felt accessories came into fashion. These hats were wide-brimmed, and their appearance in the wardrobe of medieval citizens was not accidental. At that time, unsanitary conditions were a constant companion of any European city. It was the habit of some people to pour the remains of their vital activity out of windows that forced the townspeople to wear such hats.
However, the real heyday of the popularity of the hat came in the 19th century. In those days, hats for balls and dinner parties appeared. By the way, “permission” for women not to remove their headdress indoors was introduced into the norms of etiquette in that era.
In the 20th century, the development of hat fashion was controversial. For example, during the Second World War, scarves came into use and were preferred by ladies for many years. However, by the 60s, hats returned to the fashion world again and, apparently, remained there forever.
How is a hat different from any other headdress? First of all, its appearance: it is stable and holds its shape well. In addition, such an accessory has mandatory elements: the crown (upper part) and the brim, which can be either excessively wide or very narrow.
The hat does not cover the ears from the cold and requires special storage conditions (for example, it cannot simply be folded into a lady’s bag like a hat or washed in a machine), but it is an excellent accessory for lovers of sophisticated looks.
There are a great variety of hats. Among the most popular it is worth noting:
Of course, this list is incomplete. However, regardless of the type, it is necessary to choose this accessory based on individual characteristics, such as head shape and face shape, skin color, eyes and hair length. It is also worth taking into account those details of the image for which the headdress is selected: all items of clothing must match not only in color, but also in style.