Hats Galore!

The history of hats can be traced back to Ancient Egypt. Hats have come and gone as symbols of status, functions in society, and fashion accessories. However, their role in human history cannot be overlooked. In the United Kingdom, for example, fashionable hats are a status symbol for women of higher social classes, and are often associated with certain ceremonial events such as weddings, funerals, or sports events such as horse races. Here in the Czech Republic, hats have a rich history; one will notice that many older people still wear hats, and adhere to many of the rules associated with wearing them.

Essentially, there are the following main divisions of hats:

Hats and headwear have an etiquette that should be generally followed (or at least attempted). Below is a quick summary of the rules associated with wearing a hat:

You may have noticed that women seem to be subjected to fewer restrictions. Much of this has to do with the fact that men’s hats are easily removed and simple in design. Women’s hats are often more elaborate and decorative, making it harder to remove. So with all these basic facts and rules out of the way, where can one get a nice hat for formal occasions or entertainment purposes?

Hat stores are not something that are too ubiquitous today, as hats no longer represent an indispensable element of our clothes rack. Here in Prague, there are numerous locations and websites available to purchase hats.

If you feel like having something less conventional, why not try something like this:

Finally, you can try one of the auction websites such as:

For those of you who prefer to do something of your own or simply want to have something original and different, perhaps you may want to consider making your own hat:

Ok, so if duct tape does not float your boat, how about making a paper hat?

Or a balloon hat?

Now that you have chosen a hat and are aware of the etiquette rules associated with wearing one, you’re ready to enter the exciting world of hat-wearing. The last – but by no means least – thing is the actuall wearing of said headdress. This will of course depend on what type of hat you own and what occasion it is most appropriate with. Given the fact that very few of us wear formal hats on a daily basis or for serious occasions, it is most likely we will wear one for social and/or entertainment purposes.

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