Written by The Strategy
The hat.
The commonplace casual accessory many people reach for when desiring something a little extra added to an outfit, or when the weather calls for some reinforcements. A summer beachgoer necessity, an autumn staple, and a winter life saver, the hat is a well-loved article of clothing. Since ancient times, hats have evolved along with society, allowing a traceable history through the art of millinery.
In time, however, it seems we’ve lost one aspect of wearing hats that was once one of the most prominent. Which leads us to our question of the day: What happened to the fancy hat?
A few weeks ago I came across the viral video titled “100 Years of Fashion in Two Minutes” where one by one the decades go by in women’s fashion form each year from 1915 to the current day. Every year from 1915 to 1965, I couldn’t help but take note of the hat included in each look. In 1975’s look, the hat magically disappears. Although a bandana takes it’s place, it was still a major step toward the mainly casual fashion that rules our lives today.
As fashion for everyday wear became more casual, pieces that were seemingly less important got lost in the wayside. With female empowerment on the rise, women chose to wear strikingly less formal clothes as it was no longer a social requirement to be dressed to nines whenever you left the house (thank god). With fancy hats following suit along side the undergarments of the olden days, they simply faded out of our wardrobes.
Men’s hats, namely the cringe-inducing fedora, have some how managed to survive. Though we do give credit where credit due, in this case to the hat genius that is Nick Fouquet.
Obviously still present at the ever-loved Kentucky Derby, and similar establishments, the over-the-top decorative hats that replaced the understated versions we once dressed up in are seen on the heads of proper Southern ladies and British Royalty, alike. They may not be for everyone or every day wear, but they never fail to draw attention from far and wide.
Will we ever see the return of the pillbox hat or the cloche? Probably not.
But that’s the beauty of fashion- it always changes.
Written by Katrina Garofalo
*Image via fashiongonerogue.com
