International Hat Day

From the old site, dusted off

Famous hats

Some hats are so famous the person underneath is almost optional. A short, shameless roll-call of historic public figures, film characters and one lobster.

  • Abraham Lincoln in his tall stovepipe hat

    Abraham Lincoln

    The stovepipe. Tall, black, and apparently useful for storing notes. If your hat doubles as a filing cabinet, you are doing Hat Day properly.

  • Indiana Jones in his battered brown fedora

    Indiana Jones

    The fedora that survived snakes, Nazis and an awful lot of running. Tip: if your hat falls off mid-adventure, the day is ruined.

  • The Cat in the Hat in his tall red-and-white striped hat

    The Cat in the Hat

    Dr Seuss knew: the taller and sillier the stripes, the better the day. Parental supervision recommended. Chaos optional.

  • Charlie Chaplin as the Tramp, in a bowler hat

    Charlie Chaplin

    The little Tramp’s bowler. Proof that a cheap hat and a cane can outlast empires.

  • Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes in a deerstalker

    Sherlock Holmes

    The deerstalker (via Basil Rathbone). Elementary: if you want to look like you’re thinking hard, put flaps on it.

  • Napoleon Bonaparte in his bicorne hat

    Napoleon

    The bicorne, worn sideways so nobody could miss him. A masterclass in “my hat is my brand”.

  • A tall black Victorian top hat

    The Victorian top hat

    The original tall order. Once so tall that theatres had to add hat shelves. We salute the milliners.

  • A pirate in a tricorn hat

    Any self-respecting pirate

    The tricorn. Because three corners are better than one, and “arr” sounds better under felt.

  • Lady Gaga in an elaborate lobster-inspired hat

    Lady Gaga (lobster edition)

    When millinery meets seafood. If your hat can pinch, you have gone above and beyond for Hat Day.

Got a hat that deserves a plaque? Wear it on 25 November and share with #InternationalHatDay.

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