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Top Hat or gentleman's cap as it is popularly called was an important men's accessory in the 19th and 20th century. The tall crowned, broad edged hat, nicknamed as topper is also known as cylindrical hat due to its appearance. The top hat was worn as a part of the morning dress and evening dress and was the fashion of the day.
The credit for invention of top hat goes to John Hetherington who made a slight variation with the riding hat, that was in vogue. The hat secured the attention of the viewers in 1797, when Hetherington wore it for the first time in public. The hat became popular when Prince Albert wore it during 1850s.
Description of Top Hat:
Initially the top hats were made of felt or non woven clothes but later on they were made with silk. Gloss, a special material was used for the base beneath the felt. Layers of calico or woven textiles with hard glue was used for the top hats. The glue was softened with application of heat in order to get the proper shape of the hat. In the following years experiments were conducted regarding the shape and design of the hats. A popular variation is the stovepipe hat, worn by Abraham Lincoln. This type of top hat was taller and the base was not so broad as that of the typical top hat.
History of Top Hat:
The top hat became highly popular in the 19th century. The cylindrical top resembled the chimneys of factory and therefore was often associated with industrial revolution. The hats became popular in France and were known as Incroyables. The top hats were also known as the opera hat and in the early part of the 20th century they were popular called high hats.
However, in the second half of 19th century the popularity of the top hat declined. Handmade hats and fedoras became popular among various sections of society. The popularity of the top hat became confined within the affluent and elite sections like the eminent personalities and the satirists. The top hat became a formal wear and and was wore only with the morning or evening suit.
Top hat was usually worn during the formal parties or business. At daytime the pearl gray top hats are preferred where as an elegant black top hat is worn with evening suit. However in the later years top hat remained confined only within the politicians and diplomats.
Eminent personalities like John F. Kennedy and Louis Comte, the French magician were also fond of top hat.
For more information on Hats look through accessorieszing.com.
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