There
has never been a more sophisticated and dominating hat in
fashion than the top hat. When the first top hat was worn by
the haberdasher John Hetherington in 1797, it caused a near
riot. According to a newspaper account, “passersby panicked
at the sight. Several women fainted, children screamed, dogs
yelped, and an errand boy’s arm was broken when he was
trampled by the mob.” So Hetherington was taken to court
for wearing “a tall structure having a shining luster
calculated to frighten timid people.”
Hats from the 1820s.
What Hetherington designed was a modified riding hat of the
day, widening the brim and lengthening the top area. In
1823, Antoine Gibus came along and modified it even more to
a collapsible opera hat; which made traveling with it much
easier and during the opera could be stored flat, under the
seat. It was not until 1850 that the hat really took off
when Prince Albert starting wearing it in public and it
became the fashion rage. The hat was really making a
statement, not merely being worn as part of a costume.
Gentlemen were simply saying they were important and classy.
Image: Library
of Congress LC-USZC4-6547
Image: Library
of Congress LC-DIG-cwpbh-01604
Harper's Bazaar, 1867
Felted beaver skin was the preferred material because of its
water proof properties. Because of the high demand for
beaver fashion (men’s coats were also popular), it
practically wiped out the beaver in America by 1900.
Image: Library
of Congress
LC-DIG-cwpb-02019
By
1900 the top hat was made with silk and worn only for
special occasions, such as weddings and dances, as we
commonly see it worn today. However, there was a
great top hat resurgence in the 1930s when Fred Astaire,
Gary Cooper, Marlene Dietrich and others, brought it back in
favor with motion pictures. Every affluent American
had a top hat and black tie and tail. Even the French
and English rallied to wearing it again, after watching
Astaire’s movies.
Image: Library
of Congress LC-DIG-ggbain-05412
You may have seen vintage pictures with women wearing top
hats. But those top hats are usually riding hats which
the original top hat was styled from. You may be
familiar with the picture of Spokane’s
own May Hutton wearing a top hat in the early 1900s where
she is dressed as a man and ready for a costume party.
Image: Library
of Congress LC-USZ62-116378
From 1850 to 1900, men wore top hats for business, pleasure
and formal occasions—pearl
gray for daytime, black for day or night—making
its wearer feel taller, handsomer and suave. If men
did not don a top hat you can bet they had some style of hat
on—it
was a demanded fashion. Men, rich or poor, would not
be caught dead without a hat on. Even into the 1960s,
men still wore hats for every outdoor excursion, just as
women did, which is a whole other story to be explored at a
later date by this author.
FIND YOUR OWN VICTORIAN OR VINTAGE MEN'S HAT!
(scroll on right to see more)
Decorate your foyer or den with a vintage bowler or
fedora.
Find an antique or vintage top hat!
Add an antique hat to your Victorian
collection!
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It's easy to
register and Free!
TOP HAT TRIVIA:
One of the Smithsonian Institution's most
treasured icons is
Abraham Lincoln’s silk stove pipe top hat,
worn to Ford's Theatre on the night of his
assassination in 1865. As a lawyer, he
was known to tuck important papers, court
notes, and contracts in his tall, worn top
hat.
Louis Comte, a French magician in 1814, was
the first to use the top hat to conjure up a
white rabbit.
President Richard M. Nixon was the last
President to be inaugurated wearing a top
hat, and a hat of any kind.
A gray topper is still worn in
England
for Ascot Week at the horse track.
J.P. Morgan ordered his limousine in the
early 1900s with an especially high roof so
he could ride around without taking his hat
off.
The nick name “high hat” designated
arrogance and snobbishness.
Fred Astaire made over a dozen movies
wearing a top hat, notably the 1935 “Top
Hat” with Ginger Rogers.
For refined, self-assurance, men would wear
top hats tilted at a 10 degree angle, no
more, no less.
Our very own Uncle Sam wears a top hat.
Rock star, Alice Cooper was known for his
signature top hat in My Nightmare phase.
Monopoly used a top hat token as one of its
original game board pieces.
The Penguin, one of Batman’s enemies wore a
top hat.
The "Mad Hatter" in Alice’s Adventures in
Wonderland wore a top hat.
Harpo Marx wouldn’t be seen without his top
hat.
And of course, Dr. Seuss’s Cat in the Hat
brought mischief to two lonely children with
his top hat.
Name your own special top hat character…
About the Author:
Mistress
Lou Carver is a Spokane living history presenter. You can
contact her at 509-327-3726 for more information about her
one-hour Spokane Falls history presentations.
History To You
BRINGING 1880-1920
SPOKANE HISTORY TO LIFE FOR AGES 9-99
Mistress Carver,
presenter
ARTIFACTS, MUSIC, COSTUMES, PHOTOS
509-327-3726 * Spokane, WA
1 Hour Presentation - $60
LouCarver@comcast.net
There
has never been a more sophisticated and dominating hat in
fashion than the top hat. When the first top hat was worn by
the haberdasher John Hetherington in 1797, it caused a near
riot. According to a newspaper account, “passersby panicked
at the sight. Several women fainted, children screamed, dogs
yelped, and an errand boy’s arm was broken when he was
trampled by the mob.” So Hetherington was taken to court
for wearing “a tall structure having a shining luster
calculated to frighten timid people.” 
One of the Smithsonian Institution's most
treasured icons is
President Richard M. Nixon was the last
President to be inaugurated wearing a top
hat, and a hat of any kind.
J.P. Morgan ordered his limousine in the
early 1900s with an especially high roof so
he could ride around without taking his hat
off.
Fred Astaire made over a dozen movies
wearing a top hat, notably the 1935 “Top
Hat” with Ginger Rogers.
Our very own Uncle Sam wears a top hat.
Monopoly used a top hat token as one of its
original game board pieces.
The "Mad Hatter" in Alice’s Adventures in
Wonderland wore a top hat.
And of course, Dr. Seuss’s Cat in the Hat
brought mischief to two lonely children with
his top hat.
