Fun Facts about Hats
Hats used to be all the rage in America and Europe all the way until the end of the Second World War. Men came back from war torn Europe, sick of wearing army hats and the trend for hair styles with men began. Men started styling their hair and having it cut differently so the hat became a thing of the past. Now hats are used for safety, to keep the sun out of people’s eyes, or waterproof hats are used to keep the rain off of people’s heads.
It used to be that women would wear hats, but then have to style their typically long hair around it. It wasn’t the same for men who would run a comb through their hair and pop on a hat. Women didn’t want to have frizzy locks of long hair protruding from the side of their hats.
Hat making really came alive in America in the early 1700’s, so the British created the hat act of 1732. This means that beaver felts were not allowed to be exported from the colonies of Britain. This meant that Americans had to buy British made hats and pay massive taxes for the privilege.
The term “old hat” means out of date in current slang, and to wear a dunce’s hat means that you are not so smart. That little tradition came from back in renaissance England times.
Hats are the thermos flask of the clothing world. They keep you cool in summer and warm in winter, and waterproof hats don’t let any liquids through.
Sun hats were created back in the 19th century, when baseball players in America wore whatever type of hat they wished. Professional players would come on the field with straw hats and the like, to keep the sun out of their eyes. There was a small amateur team in 1860 that started wearing hats with a flap poking out on the front. It wasn’t until the 19th century when this became standard issue wear for baseball players, so much so that this form of hat would forever be known as a baseball cap; even though it was first created as a sun hat.
The beret came from the earliest form of waterproof hats which were worn by Pyrenean shepherds. They were first adopted by French mountain soldiers because they were warm, weather proof and had no peaks to get things caught on.
Felt hats used to be made via a process that used mercury. The fumes were inhaled and caused massive brain damage. The hat makers (hatters) would often get very sick, mentally ill, and were often confused for drunkards in the street. People would make fun of the mad hatters, not realising that their job was killing them.