Hat

A hat is a headcovering. It may be worn for protection against the elements, for religious reasons, for safety, or as a fashion accessory. [ [http://www.fashion-era.com/hats-hair/hats_hair_1_wearing_hats_fashion_history.htm The Wearing of Hats Fashion History ] ] In the past, hats were an indicator of social status. In the military, they denote rank and regiment.

There are hats for men and hats for women, as well as hats worn by both sexes. Men's hats are made by hatters and women's hats by milliners.

Hat sizes

Hat sizes are determined by measuring the circumference of a person's head about 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) above the ears and dividing by pi. In the UK, an equivalent hat size is an eighth of an inch smaller than in the US. [ [http://www.thehatsite.com/measuring.html Hat Sizing and How to Measure your Head] ] Inches or centimeters may be used depending on the manufacturer. Felt hats can be stretched for a custom fit. Cheaper hats come in standard sizes, such as small, medium, large. Some hats, like baseball caps, are adjustable.

Parts of a hat

A hat consists of four main parts: [ [http://www.davidmorgan.com/hatcare.html David Morgan: Hat Care] ]
* Crown – the portion of a hat covering the top of the head
* Brim – a projection of stiff material from the bottom of the hat's crown horizontally all around the circumference of the hat
* Peak (British English), Visor (American English), or Bill – a stiff projection at the front, to shade or shield the eyes from sun and rain
* Puggaree or sweatband or hatband – a ribbon or band that runs around the bottom of the body of the hat. The sweatband may be adjustable with a cord at the top and is on the inside of the hat touching the skin while the hatband and puggaree are around the outside. The band worn with various military hats, such as the Australian slouch hat and the pith helmet, is referred to as a puggaree. [ [http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-uniforms/puggaree.htm Puggaree, the hat band, it's origins (sic) diggerhistory.com] ] [ [http://www.lexic.us/definition-of/puggaree Puggaree: Definition at lexic.us] ]

Customs

In Christian culture, men remove their hats when entering a church. In Eastern Orthodox cultures, it is customary to remove one's hat in the presence of a religious icon. Religious Jews wear a headcovering at all times, indoors and out. When entering a synagogue, men and married women must cover their heads. Upon entering an Islamic place of worship or religious learning, headscarves are required for women; many Christian churches used to have the same custom. In European culture, it was once customary for men to remove or tip their hat when greeting another person, especially a woman, as a sign of politeness.

Hat styles

ee also

*Headgear

References

External links

* [http://www.tfia.com.au The Council of Textile & Fashion Industries of Australia]
* [http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/units/scales/hatsizes.html Different Sizing Schemes]
* [http://www.hatsuk.com Hats UK] has a Hat Bible and other resources.
* [http://www.thehatsite.com/felt.html The History of Felt Hats and Hat Making]
* [http://www.fabulous-hats.eu/ The History of Hats from antiquity to the 20th century]