Mens Hats - The Evolution of Mens Hats

From the beginning of time man has sought to cover his head to protect it from the elements. The original mens hats were made from the skins of animals they had killed for the meat or from reeds and grass that had been woven together to protect their heads from the relentless summer sun. Men's hats were also designed to protect them from injuries caused by falling objects and weapons when attacked by members of opposing tribes.

As time marched on mens hats took on new roles as changes were made in both the materials they were made from and their appearance. No longer were men's hats merely a protective head covering. Much like any other item of clothing mens caps were used to denote rank and position, take for instance the Roman helmet. This heavy bronze helmet served two different purposes, first they were used in battle to protect the wearer from his opponents attacks and then they were also used to show a soldiers rank. The more lavish the helmet complete with feathers and gold ornamentation the higher the soldier's rank.

It was not until the 14th century that mens hat became more of a fashion accessory than used merely as a protective covering. Men began to take the design of their hats far more seriously than the women did and from here the trend has continued to grow.

Mens hats were made from a variety of materials including silk, leather, felt, taffetas and others as designers sought ways to make the new fashions take hold and give gentlemen a chance to stand out wearing the latest fashionable hats available.

The tricorne hat became the hat of choice for the military uniform of the day in the 17th century as one of the more practical hats of the times. The unique shape kept the rain out the wearers face and effectively channeled it back over the shoulders helping to keep the head dry. These men's hats soon became popular with the civilian world and embellishments such as lace and feathers were used giving the wearer a flamboyant appearance.

From the 19th century on mens hats have become incredibly diverse as the evolution of the Top Hat was followed by the Bowler, the Fedora hat and the Straw Boater. For many years the Straw Boater was considered the height of fashion in mens summer hats as not did it keep the sun off the wearers head but it could be adorned with different colored ribbons to show support for one's alma mater.

Hats today are just as much a part of fashion as they are of function, with today's celebrities often setting the tone for what is going to be popular. Baseball caps once reserved for sports starts and summer wear are now a big hit in the fashions world thanks to the Hip Hop and Rap music stars who wear them as a fashion statement.

Seasons still tend to dictate the fashion to some degree as mens winter hats tend to take on a far more practical role. In the winter we tend to seek out ways to keep our heads warm with deerstalker hats and woolen beanies, rather than worrying quite so much how fashionable we look. Whether for practical use of fashion mens hats have always been and will most likely continue to be a standard part of a man's wardrobe.