You might be surprised to learn that people were wearing hats more than 5,000 years ago.
As noted on Wikipedia, the earliest proof comes from Ötzi the Iceman, whose frozen body was discovered in the mountains between Austria and Italy. He was wearing a simple stitched bearskin hat with a chin strap, and scientists believe he lived around 3250 BC.
This shows that hats have been part of human life for thousands of years. Over time, hats became symbols of social status, profession, culture, and fashion.
This article traces the history of hats from ancient times to the present.
What Is a Hat?
A hat is a type of headwear worn on the head, usually for warmth, protection from the sun, work purposes, cultural reasons, or style. Hats can be made from straw, felt, leather, and sometimes even metal.
They have different parts, such as crowns, brims, and bands, which all serve a purpose and tell a story about the wearer. To understand hats better, it helps to know the basic parts of a hat.
Origins: Hats in Ancient Civilization
One of the earliest examples of headwear comes from the Venus of Willendorf, a small figurine carved around 28,000-25000 BC in present-day Austria.
The figure shows a patterned covering on the head. Some historians think it was a woven cap, while others believe it could represent a braided or beaded hairstyle. Either way, it shows that early humans cared about decorating their heads.
Venus of Willendorf, a Paleolithic figurine dated to 25,000–28,000 BCE, is considered one of the earliest representations of headwear in human history. Image via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Ötzi the Iceman, who lived around 3250 BC, wore a simple bearskin hat with a chin strap to stay warm in the mountains. Hats back then were mainly practical, but people were already using them to show a bit of identity.
In ancient Egypt, Wealthy people often shaved their heads to stay cool and wore special hats or headdresses. According to historians, one of the oldest drawings of a hat was found in an Egyptian tomb dating back to approximately 3200 BC, showing a man wearing a tall cone-shaped straw hat.
In Greece, travelers and farmers wore the petasos, a wide-brimmed hat, to protect from the sun. In Rome, freed slaves wore the pileus, a small brimless cap that became a symbol of freedom.
The Phrygian cap also carried meaning and was later used as a symbol of liberty during the French Revolution.
Hats of Kings, Knights, and Artists in the Medieval and Renaissance Era
Between the 5th and 17th centuries, hats became important symbols of social status and personal identity in Europe. What someone wore on their head often revealed their background or profession.
Wealthy nobles and royals wore hats decorated with feathers, jewels, and fine fabrics. These designs were meant to display power and wealth. One popular style was the bycocket, a style similar to the Robin Hood hat, with its pointed front and feather decoration.
According to Britannica, another well-known style was the chaperon. It started as a simple hood but gradually changed into a structured hat with long fabric tails. By the 1300s and 1400s, nobles and scholars in France and Italy wore it regularly.
Portrait of a man wearing a red chaperon (15th century). Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Public Domain.
Knights and soldiers, on the other hand, wore metal helmets in battle, but outside of war, they used simple cloth hats like the coif. This tight-fitting cap became common in the 1100s and could be worn under armor or on its own.
Artists and scholars preferred soft hats that were easy to wear, including berets or flat caps made from felt or wool. These hats were practical for their work and suited the everyday life of intellectuals. Early examples can be seen in Renaissance paintings like Leonardo da Vinci’s portraits.
Portrait of Leonardo da Vinci by Francesco Melzi. Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The tradition of artists wearing berets continued into later centuries. For instance, Johann David Passavant painted himself wearing a black beret in 1818, a symbol of creativity and intellect.
Self-Portrait with Beret in front of a Roman Landscape, 1818, by Johann David Passavant. Courtesy of the Städel Museum, Frankfurt.
Fun Fact: In this period, people could often guess someone’s job or social rank just by looking at their hat.
17th and 18th Century: Hats as Fashion Statements
By the 1600s and 1700s, hats became an important part of daily fashion in Europe. They were not only practical but also expressions of style, class, and sometimes political views.
Men’s Hats
In the 1600s, men favored wide-brimmed hats with tall crowns, often decorated with lace, feathers, or ribbons. The cavalier hat, popular among royalists during the English Civil War, was one of the most fashionable styles.
By the 1700s, the cocked hat or three-cornered hat became fashionable. It had three folded sides and was neat and practical. While it was originally called a cocked hat, the term tricorn became popular in the 1800s when the style was already fading. Both names are technically correct depending on the time period.
An example can be seen in the portrait of John Talbot, later 1st Earl Talbot, painted by Pompeo Batoni in 1773. He is shown wearing a tricorn hat during his Grand Tour of Europe, highlighting how hats reflected social status and refinement.
Portrait of John Talbot, later 1st Earl Talbot, wearing a tricorn hat, painted by Pompeo Batoni in 1773 during his Grand Tour of Europe. Courtesy of the J. Paul Getty Museum. Public Domain.
This style became so iconic that George Washington and American Revolutionary soldiers are often seen wearing it. It was neat, sharp, and perfect for military and formal wear.
Portrait of George Washington wearing a tricorn hat (c.1780). Courtesy of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association.
Another famous style was the bicorne, widely worn by naval officers such as Admiral Lord Nelson. His status atop Trafalgar Square in London shows him wearing a bicorne, representing naval power during the late 1700s and early 1800s.
Statue of Admiral Lord Nelson wearing a bicorne hat, located atop Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square, London. This iconic monument commemorates Nelson’s victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Image source: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain.
Alongside these, some men wore the leather pileus, a brimless cap inspired by ancient Rome. The Metropolitan Museum of Art houses an example from the 18th century, showing how classical designs continued to influence fashion.
18th-century leather pileus cap of American or European origin, inspired by ancient Roman symbolism of freedom. Housed at the Met Museum.
Women’s Hats
Women’s fashion in the 1700s was incomplete without a stylish hat. The shepherdess hat, also called the bergère, had a wide brim and a shallow crown and was tied under the chin with ribbons. It became especially popular in the 1750s and 1760s for sunny garden walks and outdoor activities.
An 18th-century woman wearing a classic bergère hat, popular in the 1750s–1760s. Image source: [marquise.de]
Another unusual but practical style was the calash, a folding bonnet shaped like the top of a carriage. Women wore it to protect their tall, elaborate hairstyles from wind or rain.
By the late 18th century, lace and tulle bonnets, often tied with ribbons, were also popular. These lightweight hats strike a perfect balance between practicality and elegance. Examples from the 1880s are preserved in the Nordiska Museet in Sweden.
18th-century women’s bonnet made of lace and tulle with ribbons, from the 1880s. Part of the Nordiska Museet collection, Sweden. Public Domain.
19th Century: The Golden Age of Hats
In the 1800s, hats were worn by almost everyone, whether rich or poor, man or woman.
Hats Worn by Men in the 1800s
In the 19th century, Men’s hats were both practical and fashionable. Here are some of the most common styles:
1. Top Hat
The top hat, with its high crown and structured shape, was worn by wealthy men at formal events and became a symbol of status and respect.
2. Bowler Hat (also known as the Derby Hat)
First introduced in 1849, and designed to be sturdier than the top hat. It became popular among city workers, businessmen, and even horseback riders.
Fun Fact: It’s said that the bowler hat was invented for Edward Coke, the younger brother of Thomas Coke, according to historical records.
3. Baseball Cap
The baseball cap was first introduced in the 1860s when the Brooklyn Excelsiors wore it during games to shield their eyes from the sun. Over time, it became one of the most common everyday hats worldwide. You can learn more about the origins of the baseball cap in our detailed article.
4. Flat Cap
This soft, rounded cap with a short brim was common among working-class men. It was simple, affordable, and easy to wear with everyday clothes.
5. Fedora Hat
The fedora appeared in the late 1800s, especially after actress Sarah Bernhardt wore it on stage in the play Fédora. Although it was first embraced by women, it eventually became a staple in men’s fashion as well.
It soon became a regular part of daily fashion. Read about its features and history in our Fedora hat guide article.
Hats Worn By Women in the 1800s
Women’s hats in the 19th century changed with fashion trends, seasons, and social events. Let’s take a look at some of the hat styles women wore during this time.
1. Straw Bonnet
Early in the century, straw bonnets with wide brims were common and often decorated with ribbons or flowers to match outfits. These hats gave some shade from the sun.
2. Bonnet Board
This was a firmer version of the regular bonnet. It held its shape better and was popular in the 1830s and 1840s.
4. Wide-Brimmed Hats
By the mid-1800s, women started wearing wide-brimmed hats for daytime outings to provide better protection from the sun.
5. Pork Pie Hat
The pork pie hat emerged in the 1860s, flat on top with a short brim; this style first became trendy with women, and later became popular with men as well.
6. Trilby
The trilby hat appeared in the 1890s, featuring a narrow brim and slight dip in the crown, considered modern and fashionable at the time.
20th Century: Hats Evolve with the Times
At the start of the 20th century, women often wore large, dramatic hats decorated with feathers, flowers, ribbons, and sometimes even fake birds.
In the 1920s, the cloche hat became popular, fitting closely to the head and complementing the short hairstyles of the time. Wearing a hat in public was not just fashion; it was considered good manners, and most women would not leave the house without one.
Men continued to wear fedoras, flat caps, and Panama hats, which were stylish and appropriate for various occasions. After World War II, fashion became more casual, and daily hat-wearing started to decline, but hats never fully disappeared from society.
Modern Hats: From Sportswear to Street Style
Today, hats are more about personal style than rules or traditions. People wear them for sun protection, fashion, or simply for fun. The baseball cap is arguably the most popular hat worldwide, worn by athletes, celebrities, and everyday people.
Other popular hat styles include beanies, bucket hats, and snapbacks. Modern hats are no longer about conformity; they are a way for people to express their identity and personality.
What Do Hats Symbolize?
Throughout history, hats have carried meanings beyond fashion. They can signify authority, social status, profession, or culture.
Crowns symbolize royalty, while a judge’s wig or cap represents legal authority. A tall top hat in the 1800s indicated wealth and status. Many hats also carry religious significance, such as turbans and yarmulkes (kippahs).
At weddings and festivals, hats can be colorful and expressive. Chefs wear tall white toques to show experience, with taller hats representing greater skill, as noted by Everyday Uniforms. More pleats also indicate higher experience.
Even today, hats tell a story about the wearer, such as a cowboy hat representing the Wild West or a graduation cap marking achievement.
5 Interesting Hat Facts
- There are more than 140 different types of hats around the world, from ceremonial to casual streetwear.
- Male hat makers are called hatters, while female hat designers are known as milliners.
- Panama hats, despite their name, actually come from Ecuador.
- Britain had a hat tax from 1784 to 1811, where fancier hats meant higher taxes.
- National Hat Day is celebrated every year on January 15 in the United States.
Conclusion: Hats Through History
Hats have always been more than something to wear on your head. They carry stories, meanings, and cultural significance. From ancient hunters to modern streetwear enthusiasts, hats have remained part of human life, adapting to changes in fashion and society while staying relevant.
People wear hats for faith, style, or simply personal preference. One thing is clear: hats are here to stay.
Did we miss anything important in the origins of hats? Feel free to share your thoughts or any questions you have in the comments below!
FAQs about the History of Hats
What is the main purpose of wearing a hat?
The main purpose of wearing a hat is to protect the head from the sun, rain, or cold, while also serving as a fashion statement or cultural symbol.
Who invented the first hat?
The first hat is unknown, but Ötzi the Iceman wore the oldest known hat around 3250 BC.
Are hats still popular today?
Yes, hats are still popular today for fashion, protection, and cultural reasons.
Why don’t men wear top hats anymore?
Men stopped wearing top hats regularly as everyday fashion became more casual and practical styles took over.
