Types of hats
alphabetic list N - Z
Below, you will find even more of the many different types of hats that have been recorded in the history of Millinery. While this is not a complete list, I am still discovering more as my research continues and I suspect that I will be researching for the rest of my life.
I love all hats and to list every style I would have a massive list, and as I don't profess to know them all, I will list those that I do know, and as you read on, you will see how many types there really are.
Listed are many different types of hats, spanning over centuries, and each have different means of technique to produce. Given time, you will find a link to "how to Make" some of the styles which are worn currently, however, you will also find that some hats are called by several different names, so you are sure to find repetition on occasions. Over the years, the millinery techniques used are very similar, but of course, some of the materials used in millinery today is different to that of years gone by.
Types of Hats
NEMES HEADDRESS - See KLAFT
NEWSBOY CAP - Soft fabric cap with full crown and visor that snaps to crown. Cap worn by children around 1920, who were also newsboys. Also CARNABY, style revived in 1970's. Adapted for women's wear in 1980's. OVERSEAS CAP - Olive drab cloth cap worn by soldiers in WW II and WW I. A 1979 fashion in wool that includes a cuff. Theses types of hats proved to be a popular shape in 1981.
NIGHT CAP A small cap worn to bed 18th century
OPERA HAT Another name for the gibus, which is a folding top hat.
OPTIMO - Straw ( Panama or other ) hat with full crown that has a ridge extending from front to back.
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PADRE - Hat with a low crown and a broad, straight brim that has a slight curve a outer edge. Adapted from the types of hats that priests and missionaries wore. In 1978, Adri designed felt and straw. Popular style in the 1980's both felt and straw. Also PARSON'S HAT.
PALLA - ( term from Roman occupation ) Medieval European head drapery that evolved from head rail.
PANAMA - Hand woven straw hat from leaves of the jipijapa (he pi ha pa) plant that grows in Central and South America. These types of hats take its name from Panama where it is sold.
PETASOS ( pet a sos, PETASUS pet a sus ) - Earliest hats, of felt or straw, with brims that curved upward or downward. Introduced into pre-Hellenic Europe by Cretans, who had knowledge of felt making. Later, part of Greek traveling costume. These types of Hats could be permitted to hang down the back when not in use by means of a thin chin strap or cords that tied under the chin. Many variations developed, an example would be the winged hat of ( Greek ) Hermes or ( Roman ) Mercury. Other examples are found in the IV and III B.C. Tanagra statuettes.
PHRYGIAN BONNET ( frij I an ) - Ancient ( Oriental ) cone-shaped cap with a point that falls forward if made of felt or woolen cloth, or remains erect if made of leather. Cap of freed slaves of Ancient Rome. Cap of liberty or "le BONNET ROUGE " during French Revolution in 18c. Illustration shows Scythian-Persian influence, later adapted by the Greeks. The female " Liberty " statue shows the style.
PICTURE HAT A hat with a wide, flattering brim, usually lavishly trimmed
PILEUS ( py lee us, Roman, of PILOS Greek ) - A close fitting cap of felt or leather or wool, similar to skullcap. Common to Ancient people. During the Renaissance, the cap evolved into BIRETTA.
PILGRIM HAT - See PURITAN HAT.
PILLBOX - Small cap that has a flat crown with straight sides. In Medieval times developed from a FILLET. Fashion made popular in 1960's by Jackie Kennedy. Also GARIBALDI PILLBOX. These types of hats have enjoyed many revivals throughout fashion history.
PITH HELMET - ( 19c. ) Helmet-shaped hat of English army in India. Made from pith of the Indian spongewood tree, covered with white cotton and faced with green cloth. Originally worn in tropical regions as protection from the sun. worn by polo players in the 20c. Hindu name TOPE or TOPI.
PLANTERS HAT - Worn by sugar planters of Jamaica. Various weaves. Style of hat worn by golfer J. C. Snead in 1980's.
POKE BONNET - By 1800, coiffures were " smaller heads, " and bonnets were replacing the huge MOBS and CALASH styles. The poke shaped bonnet with rounded front brim had a small crown. The bonnet came in various shapes and fabrics.
PORK PIE - ( 1930's ) A new shape in men's hats had a low crown with telescoped flat top. A small, round sporty hat with a low crown and a small up-turned brim. These types of hats have enjoyed many revivals throughout fashion history. First shown in felt, then straw. Adapted for women.
POSTILION HAT ( poce till yon ) - Also called the REMBRANDT or REUBENS from the great painters of the 17c. Revivals of the style in 18c. and 19c. The post riders of early 19c., traveling coaches wore a high hat with tapering crown. It became a very fashionable ladies hat 1795-1799
PRAIRIE BONNET a bonnet with a straight horizontal brim. worn by pioneer women
PROFILE HAT - Hat that is worn tilted to one side to show profile.
PUGGAREE ( pug ree ) or PUGGREE - From agric, East Indian word for a turban or scarf that is worn as protection against the sun. Now the pleated scarf worn as a band on a straw or felt hat.
PURITAN HAT - High, flat-crowned felt hat with wide uncocked brim and a silver buckle on a ribbon band. CAVALIER and PURITAN hats ( 17c. ) had the same basic form, but CAVALIER hats had ostrich plumes and were worn cocked.
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QUAKE HAT - ( 17c. ) Men's high quality, broad brimmed hat of felt or beaver, worn cocker or rolled. Colors were gray or brown.
QUAKER BONNET - Quaker women wore very high quality, simplified versions of the prevailing fashion. Black hood replaced by the beaver hat of 18c., then the POKE BONNET in 19c., in which the crown was gathered not pleated.
RANELAGH MOB - ( 18c. ) A form of mob cap adapted from the style worn by market women.
RETICULATED HEADDRESS - ( 14c., 15c. ) Style consisting of braided coils of hair worn over each ear, covered with CAULS or nets of fine gold or silver wire strung with jewels or pearls. Later a CRESPINE or band was added. Many forms evolved, based on the position of the braids or buns.
RIDING HAT A heavily stiffened felt hat, with a small brim. These types of hats could have a domed crown or be a version of the top hat.
ROBIN HOOD HAT - ( 12c. ) The English hero and outlaw, Robin Hood, was portrayed wearing the conical hood with self brim that was turned up at the back and worn down to a point in front. Hat was trimmed with a long quill.
ROUGH RIDER HAT - Khaki felt soldier hat of Spanish American War of 1898-99. Crown was creased and brim was cocked on one side. Named after Colonel Theodore Roosevelt's troop of Rough Riders.
ROUNDLET - ( 14c., 15c. ) Stuffed roll of velvet, worn turban fashion over a close fitting cap that covered all the hair.
RUEBBENS or REMBRANDT HAT - ( 17c. ) Large felt hat decorated with feathers or flowers. Hat made fashionable from portraits of the period. Self portrait by Rubens with Isabella Brant is an example of Dutch costume, Isabella wears a mannish hat of straw over a lace cap.
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SAILOR - Flat-crowned, straight brimmed hat, usually made of straw. Grosgrain headband trimmed with flat bow at the side worn from 1880 to the present day. Also BOATER, SENNIT.
SHAKO ( shak o ) - Flat-topped, rigid, cylindrical military dress hat with a visor and tassels, plumes or pompoms. Originally of fur, later of leather. Originally worn by Hungarian military in early 1800. Also TARBUCKET.
SHERHERDESS - ( 18c. ) Shallow crowned hat with wide brim that dips in front and back. Made of fine straw ( Leghorn ). Also CHURCHILLS, GYPSY.
SILK HAT - ( 18c., 19c. ) Black hat of silk plush, with a high, cylindrical shaped crown and a stiff rolled edge brim. As the beaver supply decreased, the SILKER became popular. Also OPERA HAT, TOPPER, GIBUS.
SINAMAY HATS The material used in these types of hats is probably the most popular blocking material of today, which is banana leaf fibres woven to create sinamay
SKULL CAP - Close fitting cap, worn on the back of the head. BEANIE (American), CALOTTE (French), YARMULKES (Male Jew).
SLOUCH CAP - Soft felt hat with broad flexible brim in various shapes. Also CIVIL WAR OFFICER'S HAT, HUNGARIAN HAT, (made popular, 1853, Louis Kossuth) GARBO, FEDORA.
SLOUCH HAT The name given to the Australian Military hat, a sporty large fedora with a creased crown and curved brim, turned up at one side. A similar version, without the turned -up side is said to have been created for Greta Garb to wear in the film "Woman of Affairs"
SNAP BRIM - Brim turns down in front and up in back. Mad of felt, straw, or fabric. Worn tilted slightly over the right eye.
SNOOD Ancient woven head covering like a hairnet. Some were made of cloth of gold adorned with precious jewels. In Medieval times, the support that holds or covers the hair was called a CAUL. In 19c., the support was called a net, sometimes SNOOD, and consisted of a net-like bag at the back of the head that held the hair or wig. In 1930, Schiaparelli designed a small fur toque to which a chenille net was attached in back to hold the hair ( SNOOD ).
SOMBRERO ( som bray ro ) - Spanish word meaning hat. The high crown keeps the head cool and the broad brim protects the wearer from the sun or rain. The peon's sombrero is made of straw, the gentleman's of felt. Also COWBOY HAT, TEN-GALLON HAT, AMERICAN STETSON ( 1870 ).
SOUTHWESTER ( sou wee ter ) - Originally waterproof hat of oiled canvas worn to protect seaman from storms, it is a hat with a roomy crown and a large turned-down brim. Then rubberises by the Mackintosh process. Now the hat is usually plastic coated. Originally worn by sailors as protection against the weather. The brim is broader in back to protect the neck in stormy weather.
SPANISH TOQUE - ( Mid 16c. ) The crown of the beret took on height when worn over a wired frame. The brim was narrow and the hat had a jeweled band and feathers.
SPOON BONNET A Victorian bonnet that came to a small spoon shaped peak at the top and trimmed with lace and flowers
STATUE CAP - A statue, passed in England in 1571, to encourage the wool workers, made wearing this cap compulsory for the common men-folk. Also can be seen in some illustrations of King Edward VI
STOCKING CAP - Knit cap with long tapering end ( liripipr ), usually finished with a pompom or tassel.
STOVEPIPE HAT - ( Late 18c. ) Hat of felt, napped with beaver, with tall rounded crown , and rolled small brim. Evolved into high silk hat.
STRAW HATS Many types of hats produced in straw.
SUGAR LOAF - ( 14c., 15c. ) A very tall tapering, conical hat first worn in the 14th century in the medieval times. It resembles the loaf shape into which refined sugar was made.
SUNBONNET - A bonnet for women and girls that has a large stiff brim and a flap at the back for protection from the sun.
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Back to Types of Hats - Alphabetical list A - D
TAJ - Persian and Arabic for crown. A brimless, tall, cone shaped cap of distinction.
TAM O' SHANTER - A variation of the Scottish bonnet named after a character in the poem by Robert Burns. Cap was made of heavy brushed wool with a center tassel or pompom on the top.
TANAGRA - Straw hat with a tall conical crown from Ivc., IIIc., B.C. Greece. Example from terra cotta statuette of a woman from Boeotion town of Tanagra. Also PETASOS, THOLIA.
TARBOOSH - Arabic for cap. Brimless felt or cloth skullcap, worn by both men and women of the Mohammedan faith. Usually , red, sometimes has a scarf draped around it or covered with a veil. Larger than a FEZ.
TASHASHIT - ( berber ) See CHECHIA.
THEATRICAL HATS Many types of Hats which are worn for theatrical performances
THERESE - ( Late 16c. ) Large hood of gauze over a frame of wire or whale bone. Also CALASH.
TIARA ( tee ar a ) - Greek origin, crown. Woman's crown-like headdress of jewels. Also ancient Persian, Assyrian head covering of the king. A tall conical cap. Also TIRE, MITRE
TOONGABBIE - ( 1960 ) A washable toweling hat, mad of cotton terry cloth.
TOP HAT - Worn for formal occasions with tail coat. Tall cylindrical crown in various heights. Late 19c., changed from beaver to silk hat. Originally a man's hat but has been worn by women since the seventeenth century. Very popular for horseriding for ladies. Also TOPPER, SILKER.
TOPEE, TOPI - Hindu, hat worn in India and other tropical countries as protection from the sun. See PITH HELMET.
TOPPER Same as the Top Hat. Originally a man's hat but has been worn by women since the seventeenth century. Very popular for horseriding
TOQUE ( toke ) - small brimless hat or cap full crown and draped of decorated with puffs, lace. Can be decorated with feathers or veiling. Formerly a 16c. small hat, full crown, feather. Some versions have a small brim. Queen Mary of England ( 20c. ) favored this style. At the inauguration of President Reagan in 1981, Nancy Reagan wore a red, braided toque that matched her coat.
TOREADOR HAT - Bicorne shape, set crosswise on the head.
TRICORNE - Three cornered hat with upturned wide brim. As the Cavalier hat grew larger and the brim began to droop, fashion led to " cocking " the brim up on one side. Last half of 17c., the hat was cocked on three sides, thus becoming the TRICORNE.
TRILBY A fedora style hat, probably a little more tapered towards the top.
TRUNCATED TIARA - Ancient Babylonian and Assyrian hat of wool or felt with short lappets.
TUDOR BERET, RENAISSANCE BERET - From 1539 painting of Henry VIII portrait by Holbein. Hat of velvet with jewel and feather.
TUQUE ( tuke ) - Winter knitted hat, tapered and closed at both end. Worn with one end tucked into the other. Seen at Canadian winter sporting events.
TURBAN - Ancient Oriental headdress, consisting of long pieces of cloth rolled and formed over a cap. Periodically the fashion is revived in various forms, especially when European culture is exposed to the Orient. Todays version is usually draped in a similar manner but secured permanently to a firm base. The Moors in Spain, the returning Crusaders in 11-13c., the capture of Constantinople in 1453, all brought Eastern influence in costume and hairstyles. The Napolenic campaign in Egypt brought this influence to Europe( Empire fashion) in early 19c. The illustration is of an 1931 French turban executed by Mr. Alexander. Early 20c., fashion was influenced by Paul Poiret's fascination with costumes and fabrics of Eastern styles. Throughout the 20c., various styles of the turban have been presented.
TUTULUS - Etruscan ( 700-300 B.C. ) Braided hairstyle of women evolved into conical shaped cap, as worn by peasants and soldiers.
TYROLESE (TYROLEAN) A hat with a tall pointed crown and a narrow brim, Worn by Robin Hood
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Back to Types of Hats - Alphabetical list E - M
VAGABOND HAT - Casual hat, has Dobbs trademark.
VOLENDAM - See DUTCH CAP.
VULTURE HEADDRESS - Ancient Egyptian.
WATCH CAP - Knitted cap, navy blue, such as worn by sailors. Cap rolls down to keep forehead and neck warm. Formerly in worsted wool, now in synthetic fibers.
WATTEAU - ( 18c. ) Following the tall FONTANGE, the small cap appeared. The French painter and engraver, Watteau, showed the small hat in his illustrations, thereby setting a fashion. These types of hats was worn tipped forward to accommodate the high back hairstyles. WEDDING RING - ( 1979 ) Frank Olive's round-crown, rolled-brim hat, in shiny straw. Similar versions called " Krizia hat, " " bowler."
WHIMSIES A name given to small headpieces in 1950 -60s
WIDOW'S HAT/VEIL Made of translucent black silk crepe for mourning. The veil is attached to a black hat
WIDOW'S PEAK HAT A Hat coming from the centre point in the middle of the forehead. These types of hats were named for Mary, Queen of Scots
WIMPLE - ( late 12c., 13c., 14. ) The veil evolved into the wimple, a cloth draped across the throat, cheeks and chin, leaving the face exposed. The illustration shows a wimple worn with a headveil. Certain orders of nuns still wear the wimple. In 14c., the cloth wimple worn without a veil, pinned over coils of hair on either side of the head was known as a GORGET. In 1938, a toque of Persian lamb, with black georgette wimple.
WITCH HAT - At the time of the persecution of witches in England, the costume of the times included the steeple hennin. These types of hats remained as a symbol of the garb of witches.
YARMULKE - Skullcap worn by male Jews. Orthodox Jews wear the skullcap everyday. Cap consists of four or six pie-shaped pieces, and is lines or unlined. ZOUVE CAP - See CHECHIA.
ZUCCHETTO ( tsook ket toe ) - Ecclesiastical calotte, skullcap.
The types of hats listed above is by no means the complete list. If you are familiar with any other different types of hats, please contact me. It is really interesting to research and find out the many varied types of hats that have been worn in the past. No doubt, many too, will be re-worn in the future, perhaps not as they were in their hayday, especially those from the 18th century and prior, but none the less fancy dress and theatrical types of hat are aways featured when the past is replicated in any the story.
