# Britain loves their elaborate hats. Is there any other country where they are still worn? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 20, 2012, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-loves-their-elaborate-hats-is-there-any-other-country-where-they-are-still-worn/625791 "2012-06-20T21:35:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-loves-their-elaborate-hats-is-there-any-other-country-where-they-are-still-worn/625791/1 "2012-06-20T21:35:12Z")
I’m not referring to baseball caps. Recent Jubilee photos from Britain are filled with huge elaborate hats. Are they still fashionable anywhere else in the world? I like Kate’s red hat > **[Kate's flying the British flag! Duchess of Cambridge opts for red, blue and...](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2154842/Duchess-Cambridge-Kate-Middleton-opts-red-blue-cream-outfits.html)** > > A little more than a year after marrying into the British royal family Kate Middleton, now known as the Duchess of Cambridge, was faced with the daunting task of selecting outfits appropriate for her grandmother-in-law's momentous Diamond Jubilee... A bit distracting [http://www.graziadaily.co.uk/pub/21publish/f/fashion/kate-middleton-Philip-Treacy-hat.jpg](http://www.graziadaily.co.uk/pub/21publish/f/fashion/kate-middleton-Philip-Treacy-hat.jpg) > **[Kate's daring hemline: Duchess of Cambridge shines in short skirt as she...](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2112023/Duchess-Cambridge-Kate-Middleton-Queen-board-train-1st-day-Diamond-Jubilee-tour.html)** > > The Queen looked in high spirits, wearing a fuchsia pink coat and matching hat while Kate opted for 1940's glamour in a teal suit, nipped-in at the waist. > **[Prince Harry's former flame Florence Brudenell-Bruce leads parade of fillies...](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2162197/Royal-Ascot-2012-Prince-Harrys-flame-Florence-Brudenell-Bruce-leads-style-stakes-day-two.html)** > > She's been pictured numerous times wearing nothing but underwear, but today Prince Harry's former flame Florence Brudenell-Bruce channelled her more demure side as she attended day two of Royal Ascot. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-loves-their-elaborate-hats-is-there-any-other-country-where-they-are-still-worn/625791/2 "2012-06-20T21:38:56Z")
You’ve never been to or seen the Kentucky Derby, I take it. ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-loves-their-elaborate-hats-is-there-any-other-country-where-they-are-still-worn/625791/3 "2012-06-20T21:40:16Z")
Or any AME church on a Sunday. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-loves-their-elaborate-hats-is-there-any-other-country-where-they-are-still-worn/625791/4 "2012-06-20T21:45:11Z")
> [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](#): > > Or any AME church on a Sunday. African Methodist Episcopal for those of you who might not know is a denomination here in the U.S. mostly made up of African Americans. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-loves-their-elaborate-hats-is-there-any-other-country-where-they-are-still-worn/625791/5 "2012-06-20T21:46:29Z")
Never mind hats, I never realized until my brother’s wedding that women in England were expected to wear “fascinators” at formal events. My reaction: WTF is a “fascinator”? My wife had to research this (and where to obtain one, at no doubt vast expense) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-loves-their-elaborate-hats-is-there-any-other-country-where-they-are-still-worn/625791/6 "2012-06-20T21:54:36Z")
So **that’s** what those things are called. I’ve been seeing those weird hats in all the Jubilee photos. Fascinating. 😃 [![](https://blog.cardsdirect.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Fascinator.jpg) ](https://blog.cardsdirect.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Fascinator.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-loves-their-elaborate-hats-is-there-any-other-country-where-they-are-still-worn/625791/7 "2012-06-20T21:54:36Z")
I thought facinators WERE hats. 😕 Women type, um, hat thingies… -XT ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-loves-their-elaborate-hats-is-there-any-other-country-where-they-are-still-worn/625791/8 "2012-06-20T22:14:38Z")
No joke. There’s even a hatinator. Man, those Brits love their hats. Dressing up is fun. I wish the fashion got popular here. [http://www.snootyfrox.co.uk/accessories/hatinators/nigel\_rayment\_10491\_hatinator](http://www.snootyfrox.co.uk/accessories/hatinators/nigel_rayment_10491_hatinator) > **[hatinator — definition, examples, related words and more at Wordnik](http://www.wordnik.com/words/hatinator)** > > All the words ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-loves-their-elaborate-hats-is-there-any-other-country-where-they-are-still-worn/625791/9 "2012-06-20T22:26:54Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > African Methodist Episcopal for those of you who might not know is a denomination here in the U.S. mostly made up of African Americans. To really get the flavor, read [Crowns: Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats](http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/crowns-michael-cunningham/1012168233) by Craig Marberry and Michael Cunningham. A couple of shots from the book can be seen on Cunningham’s website [here](http://www.mcphotog.com/#/portfolio-books/crowns-(doubleday-2000)/steel). ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-loves-their-elaborate-hats-is-there-any-other-country-where-they-are-still-worn/625791/10 "2012-06-20T22:31:37Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > Never mind hats, I never realized until my brother’s wedding that women in England were expected to wear “fascinators” at formal events. My reaction: WTF is a “fascinator”? My wife had to research this (and where to obtain one, at no doubt vast expense) 😃 Yeah fascinators are pretty much standard issue here too for weddings. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-loves-their-elaborate-hats-is-there-any-other-country-where-they-are-still-worn/625791/11 "2012-06-20T23:04:55Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I’m not referring to baseball caps. > > Recent Jubilee photos from Britain are filled with huge elaborate hats. > > Are they still fashionable anywhere else in the world? > > I like Kate’s red hat > [Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton opts for red, blue and cream outfits | Daily Mail Online](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2154842/Duchess-Cambridge-Kate-Middleton-opts-red-blue-cream-outfits.html) > > A bit distracting > [http://www.graziadaily.co.uk/pub/21publish/f/fashion/kate-middleton-Philip-Treacy-hat.jpg](http://www.graziadaily.co.uk/pub/21publish/f/fashion/kate-middleton-Philip-Treacy-hat.jpg) > > [Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton and Queen board train for 1st day of Diamond Jubilee tour | Daily Mail Online](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2112023/Duchess-Cambridge-Kate-Middleton-Queen-board-train-1st-day-Diamond-Jubilee-tour.html) > > [Royal Ascot 2012: Prince Harry's former flame Florence Brudenell-Bruce leads style stakes on day two | Daily Mail Online](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2162197/Royal-Ascot-2012-Prince-Harrys-flame-Florence-Brudenell-Bruce-leads-style-stakes-day-two.html) These are royals. Normal British people do not wear weird hats, any more than we wear crowns. Very few British people wear hats at all these days. They are probably less common than they are in the USA. ---
**Author:** ![ticker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@ticker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ticker)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2012, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-loves-their-elaborate-hats-is-there-any-other-country-where-they-are-still-worn/625791/12 "2012-06-21T06:25:24Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > These are royals. Normal British people do not wear weird hats, any more than we wear crowns. Very few British people wear hats at all these days. They are probably less common than they are in the USA. Agreed. The only place a normal British woman is likely to wear a fancy hat is at a wedding, or some formal occasion where they are trying to ape times past. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2012, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-loves-their-elaborate-hats-is-there-any-other-country-where-they-are-still-worn/625791/13 "2012-06-21T07:01:11Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > These are royals. Normal British people do not wear weird hats, any more than we wear crowns. Very few British people wear hats at all these days. They are probably less common than they are in the USA. I think they probably know that. They’re are still worn at weddings though, I think I was the only one without one at the last wedding I went to. And then, of course, we have [Royal Ascot](https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=royal+ascot+ladies+day&hl=en&rlz=1C1CHFA_enGB485GB485&prmd=imvnsu&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=RsbiT6aCF5TJ8gOryZjXDg&ved=0CIEBELAE&biw=1652&bih=1139). ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2012, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-loves-their-elaborate-hats-is-there-any-other-country-where-they-are-still-worn/625791/14 "2012-06-21T09:15:56Z")
> [@ticker](#): > > Agreed. The only place a normal British woman is likely to wear a fancy hat is at a wedding, or some formal occasion where they are trying to ape times past. Which is also the instance where you’re most likely to see hats or mantillas in Spain. One of the differences between “our side” and “their side” at my cousin’s recent wedding is that none of the people on our side wore any kind of head covering but about two-thirds of the women and a third of the men on theirs did; their dresses were more elaborate in general (I’d been noticing the differences before discovering the split followed “side” lines; I’m my cousin’s out-of-town relative so there were many people in our side I hadn’t seen in years). ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2012, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-loves-their-elaborate-hats-is-there-any-other-country-where-they-are-still-worn/625791/15 "2012-06-21T09:53:36Z")
> [@ticker](#): > > Agreed. The only place a normal British woman is likely to wear a fancy hat is at a wedding, or some formal occasion where they are trying to ape times past. Or at village fetes, or church fairs or … really any outdoor event where there’s a decent excuse to dress up. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2012, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-loves-their-elaborate-hats-is-there-any-other-country-where-they-are-still-worn/625791/16 "2012-06-21T13:23:47Z")
> [@XT](#): > > I thought facinators WERE hats. 😕 Women type, um, hat thingies… > > -XT They appear to be a mutation of a decorative hair comb. Some of them aspire to hat-dom in size and elaboration, others hark back to their comb-like ancestry. That’s just my observation anyway - I am no expert. Far from it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2012, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-loves-their-elaborate-hats-is-there-any-other-country-where-they-are-still-worn/625791/17 "2012-06-21T13:27:47Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > Yeah fascinators are pretty much standard issue here too for weddings. Where is “here”? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2012, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-loves-their-elaborate-hats-is-there-any-other-country-where-they-are-still-worn/625791/18 "2012-06-21T13:39:40Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > Where is “here”? An Gadai is in Ireland, I believe. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2012, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-loves-their-elaborate-hats-is-there-any-other-country-where-they-are-still-worn/625791/19 "2012-06-21T14:10:06Z")
Every few years, the fashion people issue a proclamation: “Hats Are BACK!” Pictures of celebrities and fashionistas wearing new, kicky, fun hats. Articles by designers hopefully asserting that the time has come for women to add hats to the accessory list. The only problem being that no matter how enthusiastically they say “Hats Are BACK!” - they never are, for the vast majority. The British hat-wearing thing is an anomaly, something to get attention, something ‘fun’, and ultimately means nothing. Like white gloves, stockings with seams up the back, and old fashioned girdles, decorative hats are a thing of the past to most of us. IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2012, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-loves-their-elaborate-hats-is-there-any-other-country-where-they-are-still-worn/625791/20 "2012-06-21T14:27:58Z")
When I was down south, I used to wear my Panama regularly. I’ve not really had much occasion to wear it this year. ☹ I actually have a floppy hat which I wear when it’s raining: it keeps my anorak hood in just the right place. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-loves-their-elaborate-hats-is-there-any-other-country-where-they-are-still-worn/625791.md?page=2)