# 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:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2012, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-loves-their-elaborate-hats-is-there-any-other-country-where-they-are-still-worn/625791/21 "2012-06-21T14:35:09Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > Every few years, the fashion people issue a proclamation: “Hats Are BACK!” Meanwhile, hats do seem to be back at the moment, for men, in the U.S. It’s not at all uncommon to see young men wearing porkpie hats or fedoras these days. Not sure if it’s the influence of “Mad Men”, or what, but it definitely seems to be a retro look. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2012, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-loves-their-elaborate-hats-is-there-any-other-country-where-they-are-still-worn/625791/22 "2012-06-21T14:52:53Z")
Hatters gonna hat. ---
**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, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-loves-their-elaborate-hats-is-there-any-other-country-where-they-are-still-worn/625791/23 "2012-06-21T15:07:53Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Meanwhile, hats do seem to be back at the moment, for men, in the U.S. It’s not at all uncommon to see young men wearing porkpie hats or fedoras these days. Not sure if it’s the influence of “Mad Men”, or what, but it definitely seems to be a retro look. Men’s hats have been back since long before _Mad Men_. It started at least as far back as the Swing Revival in the early 1990s. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2012, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-loves-their-elaborate-hats-is-there-any-other-country-where-they-are-still-worn/625791/24 "2012-06-21T15:27:40Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > 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). Which is on right now. Passing through Waterloo station in London this morning (from where trains head out to Ascot), it was a veritable forest of fascinators. There’s something very British about getting all dolled up for the races and then travelling there packed in on a commuter train. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2012, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-loves-their-elaborate-hats-is-there-any-other-country-where-they-are-still-worn/625791/25 "2012-06-21T16:33:15Z")
New Zealanders also love their hats; I (an American) visited there to attend a friend’s wedding, and I literally had to go to a hat shop and acquire one (not that I needed much persuading!) in order to be properly dressed for the event. ---
**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 21, 2012, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-loves-their-elaborate-hats-is-there-any-other-country-where-they-are-still-worn/625791/26 "2012-06-21T17:19:41Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > Where is “here”? As Ascenray says, Ireland. ---
**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, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-loves-their-elaborate-hats-is-there-any-other-country-where-they-are-still-worn/625791/27 "2012-06-21T17:38:24Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > As Ascenray says, Ireland. Since I’ve been, as it were, forcibly introduced into the fascinating world of fascinators, I’ve noticed that some wedding parties in Canada have started to feature them, too. It’s spreading? :eek: ---
**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 21, 2012, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-loves-their-elaborate-hats-is-there-any-other-country-where-they-are-still-worn/625791/28 "2012-06-21T17:41:42Z")
Lots of pretty ladies in bright colors at Ascot. Guys wearing top hats. Looks like a lot of fun. I wouldn’t mind dressing up too. It makes a lot of difference when all the people around you are dressed up. It becomes a party. > **[It won't rain on our fashion parade! Royal Ascot transformed into sea of...](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2162540/Royal-Ascot-2012-Ladies-Day-transformed-sea-colour-despite-threats-thunder.html)** > > It is the highlight of the summer social calendar and nothing - not even the prospect of the predicted 2pm thunderstorm - could dampen the spirits of racegoers on Ascot's Ladies Day. > [@Colophon](#): > > Which is on right now. Passing through Waterloo station in London this morning (from where trains head out to Ascot), it was a veritable forest of fascinators. There’s something very British about getting all dolled up for the races and then travelling there packed in on a commuter train. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2012, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-loves-their-elaborate-hats-is-there-any-other-country-where-they-are-still-worn/625791/29 "2012-06-21T18:59:24Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Men’s hats have been back since long before _Mad Men_. It started at least as far back as the Swing Revival in the early 1990s. That may be, but, IME, it’s been in the last two years or so that I’ve really noticed a significant upswing in hat-wearing among men (particularly young men). ---
**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, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-loves-their-elaborate-hats-is-there-any-other-country-where-they-are-still-worn/625791/30 "2012-06-21T19:16:22Z")
I’d put that down you your just not noticing, or having forgotten that you noticed until _Mad Men_, a form of confirmation bias and selective memory. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2012, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-loves-their-elaborate-hats-is-there-any-other-country-where-they-are-still-worn/625791/31 "2012-06-21T19:27:15Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > I’d put that down you your just not noticing, or having forgotten that you noticed until _Mad Men_, a form of confirmation bias and selective memory. You may be correct. That said, here are a couple of articles suggesting that at least the current resurgence in men’s hats is only a few years old: > **[The Cat in the Hat Comes Back (Published 2011)](https://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/03/fashion/03HATS.html)** > > At the recent men’s-wear shows in Paris and Milan, it looked as if everyone had visited the same hatters’ convention. [http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500803\_162-20013848-500803.html](http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500803_162-20013848-500803.html) [http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-500169\_162-4684038.html](http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-500169_162-4684038.html) > **[Men's hats are hot again](https://www.stltoday.com/life-entertainment/fashion-and-style/article_4c7ea410-7a0a-5480-8828-42dfc8adc880.html)** > > Jason Ursua has been sporting baseball caps his whole life. But about two years ago, the 28-year-old expanded his hat collection to include cadet caps and wool fedoras. He now (In reading these articles, I’ve also been reminded of a style of hat that one often sees now: the trilby.) ---
**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, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-loves-their-elaborate-hats-is-there-any-other-country-where-they-are-still-worn/625791/32 "2012-06-21T19:34:51Z")
A trilby is just a fedora with a narrower brim. Indeed, the terms “trilby” and “fedora” have historically been used interchangeably. And back in 1982, George Michael was rapping about how cool a trilby hat was. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2012, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-loves-their-elaborate-hats-is-there-any-other-country-where-they-are-still-worn/625791/33 "2012-06-21T19:56:45Z")
How about a synaogue during high holidays? Or for women who still cover their heads in shul? I made my own fascinator last year for one of the services. I wore it again for work and got lots of compliments. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Cornholio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ed8c4c/32.png) [@The\_Great\_Cornholio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Cornholio)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2012, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-loves-their-elaborate-hats-is-there-any-other-country-where-they-are-still-worn/625791/34 "2012-06-21T20:00:58Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Lots of pretty ladies in bright colors at Ascot. Guys wearing top hats. > > Looks like a lot of fun. I wouldn’t mind dressing up too. It makes a lot of difference when all the people around you are dressed up. It becomes a party. > [Royal Ascot 2012 Ladies' Day transformed into sea of colour despite threats of thunder | Daily Mail Online](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2162540/Royal-Ascot-2012-Ladies-Day-transformed-sea-colour-despite-threats-thunder.html) Ladies were banned from wearing Fascinators in the Royal Enclosure at Ascot this year ( as well as loads of body flesh on show, and skirts shorter than a certain length), because, well, they are vulgar (apparently). “Headpieces” had to have a 10cm diameter base. Gentlemen in the Royal Enclosure must keep their top hats on whilst outside, unless in private boxes, terraces, balconies or gardens. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-loves-their-elaborate-hats-is-there-any-other-country-where-they-are-still-worn/625791/35 "2012-06-22T03:43:52Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > [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) Wow…I don’t think I’ve ever noticed before just how much she looks like a young Diana Rigg. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-loves-their-elaborate-hats-is-there-any-other-country-where-they-are-still-worn/625791.md?page=1)