Hats have always been a part of men’s fashion. These come from the days of warriors wearing helmets as they went into battle. Covering the head for protection was vital to enabling the fighters to protect themselves. The need to cover the head might now be more about keeping the head warm, but it hasn’t stopped clothes and hat designers from looking at the best ways a man can protect his head.
irish flat caps are one of the most versatile and fashionable hats that a man can own. They go with anything and can be used for work or for formal and informal occasions.
The Top hat is a strange creation. It has no actual practical use and offers no protection. The sole purpose of the top hat was to convey a sense of importance and social class. If you owned one, you were generally part of the upper class. This did not stop people of the lower classes from getting and holding them.
The Bowler hat was the working-class version of the top hat. It was distinctive and lower in height than the topper to illustrate the standing and station of the people wearing it. Unlike the Top Hat, it was usually made of more robust material, befitting of someone looking for protection over style. However, the bowler did start to make its way into being a hat that legal and financial professionals favoured in their daily working wear.
How to choose and wear the right style
Wearing a hat well is mostly about confidence and knowing how to style it. Start with the basics: the shape, the colour and the brim, which can be worn up or down. A wide brim makes a statement, while a narrower one is easier to wear every day.
For a casual look, a newsboy or flat cap is hard to beat. They usually come in neutral colours, go with almost any outfit and are easy to put on and take off. A bucket hat suits muted colours and lighter suits and also works well with jeans. For a more traditional style, the fedora is the classic partner for a suit, often finished with a discreet band or bow.
The baseball cap remains a favourite for its comfort and relaxed look, and it can be simple or eye-catching depending on the design. Whatever you choose, a hat has practical uses too: it covers a bad hair day, shields your eyes from the sun and protects your head from the weather.