For centuries, people have been wearing hats of all different shapes and sizes, some for protection from the elements and some for style – some for both. There are hats, scarves, bandanas, toques, helmets, and all things in between.
You can go back to ancient history and marvel at the sophisticated technology that the ancient Greeks had. Still, today no one can figure out how they made their metal helmets so light and yet so strong so that when they used X-rays they could little or no flaws at all. Therefore, what is it about head wear that just keeps coming back, generation after generation? Well, to put it simply, it just plain looks cool.
Construction workers have a certain pride in their construction hats, and they are color coded to denote rank. Artists have long loved to sport colorful headwear as an artistic statement, like the great Irish writer James Joyce who always wore a wide brimmed hat to add some flair and melodrama to the mundane. You can, if you are so inclined and if you have the money, get a replica of the crown made for you and you can think you’re royalty.
Long ago, you didn’t dare go out without your hat, in fact, it spawned the phrase, “A place to hang my hat”, which meant home and hearth and denoted stability.
The famous German World War II helmet, the balaclava got its name from the battle of balaclava where the soldiers all wore
wool caps, not unlike today’s toque, but the distinguishing feature of the balaclava was that it was pulled down over the ears for protection against the cold, and that style later evolved into the metal helmet that partially covered the ears that is synonymous with the German World War II helmet.
Bandanas are also a fashion statement. It used to be a kerchief that was worn by women but it transferred over to men’s fashion and became a statement of mach manhood, worn by bikers and men who wanted to stand out because they care what anyone said about them. Then there is the famous cowboy hat, made famous by the brand name of Stetson. The Stetson was the peak of western wear, and their hats still sell all over the world and the ones who buy them wear them with pride.
So, what is it about headwear that makes people keep trying new styles and trying new ways – well, like I said at the beginning of the article, headwear makes you look cool, because you look good wearing it, and you like it when you get compliments on how good you look, so, whatever it is about
hats that you like, keep on experimenting and trying new things, it’s that creativity that makes the human experience interesting, and if you’ve never worn a hat, just go out and try one on. Who knows, maybe you’ll start a trend!
