Fashion is constantly updating and innovating its-self. At the end of the 18th century, hairstyles were very tall and extravagant and were created to show patriotism at commemorations and important occasions. During this period the hairstyles were so well-crafted that most of the time, it was nearly impossible to tell where the hairstyle ended and the hat began.

Again, at the end of this century, although the mob-cap had a simple function of keeping the hair clean and tidy, it became very popular with society ladies because of its perceived image of simplicity and refinement.

It was also at this time that the first versions of the top hat appeared in
France and Great Britain.

The top hat was given the French nickname of “Incroyable” or incredible, due to its high and exotic extravagance. The classic black top hat was adopted by the whole of society due to the influence of Great Britain’s Prince Albert. It became accepted as an integral part of masculine attire.

The fashion lasted until the end of the century when the more modern styles of bowler and trilby hats appeared.

The bowler hat was created by the Londoners Thomas and William Bowler for the James Lock and Company hat maker. It was chosen for its rigidity by the outfitters Edward Coke to be used by game keepers. It was worn to protect the head from low-hanging branches when out riding.

As time passed it became worn by the ruling classes, and after having crossed several borders, it arrived in the United States under the name “derby”.
 
It is an interesting fact that this hat is still worn today. In Bolivia for example,
this style of hat is part of the national costume worn on Independence Day.

The publication of “Trilby”, a novel later turned into a play, written in 1894
by George du Maurier, led to the name of a hat.

However, it was in the Edwardian age that the trilby gained a bohemian association because it was adopted by the artists and writers of the “Bloomsbury Group” in London.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the Edwardian picture hat came into fashion. They were crafted from tulles, ribbons, flowers and plumage. Generally speaking they were perched on a “pompadour” hairstyle, covered in locks of natural or artificial hair.

At the initiative of Paul Poiret at the end of the Belle Epoque (1871-1914), the turban became popular. It was practical, vividly coloured and it became the favorite accessory of Simone de Beauvoir, who was the icon of left-wing feminism.

In the 1920s hats became the darlings of the horse-racing fraternity in Great Britain and today they are still worn by both men and women. They project an informal but sophisticated image.

Most of the millinery trends have been dictated by Worth in Paris, Lucile in
London and Anna Ben-Yusef in New York.

The minimalist nature of the brimless “cloche” hats became popular at the beginning of the 1920s. They were a part of the “garçonne” look, the same way that short hair and straight slip dresses gave an androgynous look to the women of the Roaring Twenties.

They were made in felt, closely fitted to the head, and often decorated with an Art Deco style diamond brooch.

As the hat covered the eyes, this style obliged women to hold their heads up and back, which gave them a haughty look which was appreciated in that era.
 
However, the cocktail hat which consists of small head decorations with a delicate veil covering the face was the icon of femininity after the war in the
1950s. They were much worn for celebrations and formal occasions.

The simple and minimalist, military-inspired “pillbox hat” was seen worldwide in 1961 when Jackie Kennedy wore a model by Halston – the master milliner for New York’s Bergdorf Goodman store – during the inauguration ceremony of her husband as the President of the United States of America.

In 1979 “pork pie” hats with their very flat and slightly indented crowns, and a small, up-turned brim all the way around, took to the stage through the music world. This style has been forgotten for some time, but is now re- emerging on the fashion scene.

One can but agree that the wearing of hats has always gone hand in hand with elegance. Some styles get left aside for a certain period of time, but then reappear or are re-invented. This fashion has never ceased to exist. Today, wearing a hat is still the icon of sophistication, and a hat completes and enhances an outfit.

The Fascinator, which has been modified in form and style throughout its history, has always been a much lighter alternative to a traditional hat. Fascinators, which are attached to the head by a ribbon, a comb or a clip, can vary greatly in style, decorated with feathers, flowers or jewellery. They are also used as cocktail hats or as a formal accessory. They are very popular
with royal families.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (née Kate Middleton) is known for wearing a version of fascinator which is based on a very small hat, and is now called a Hatinator.