Here for the History - Why Don’t We Wear Hats Anymore?

Download Why Don’t We Wear Hats Anymore?

For centuries leaving the house without a hat would be like leaving the house without your phone or keys - you simply wouldn’t do it. But these days, headwear is an optional add on - a fashion choice, a weather protector, or found on the head of a wedding guest.

Alice and Ben look under the brim of history to find out what on earth happened to the ubiquity of the hat?

We’ll cover a parent’s desperate tactic to keep a son out of trouble, there are highwaymen, practical jokes, and a British supermodel.

Key Sources:
The Cultural, Social, and Ideological Role of the Hat in Early Modern England - Professor Bernard Capp
Dress for Deference and Dissent: Hats and the decline of Hat Honour - Professor Penelope J. Corfield
Hats - Fiona Clark

Published on Thursday, 1st October 2026.

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