Regency Fashion: Gentlemen’s Hats

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Beaver until latterly has been almost solely worn among the nobility and gentry a silk hat if known only recalling a low mechanic to the ideas of the former upon the subject Now the reason why so great a preference has always been given by the fashionables to beaver while silk has been abominated as well as their relative properties I intend slightly expatiating on Of beaver the chief and essential properties that it is said to have had over silk was its extremelightness and pliability and I may say shape for until very lately silk hats have been taken little notice of by the middling orders there was ever a vast distinction made in this last particular Silk hats were invariably made
а large crowned when the fashion was for small so that those who might have been partial to silk could not obtain a fashionable shape This in fact seemed premeditated among the manufacturers to enhance the prices of beaver This however has been since remedied I am happy to say for the sake of economy and fashion and to such perfection are silk hats now manufactured at half the price of beaver that they may be obtained nearly as light and quite as elegant in shape and gloss and above all far more durable In fact while scarcely to be distinguished from each other there is an advantage that silk hats will ever possess over beaver which is that the gloss on silk though it wear at the sides which should be doubleedged will continue to the last while beaver turns quite brown and looks very shabby The only advantage which beaver in its turn possesses over silk is its elastic property so that it runs scarcely any risk in getting bent or broken as common manufactured silk hats For this purpose to extend a similar benefit to silk or to couple their respective advantages silk is frequently used for covering beaver shapes
a which from their cheapness I strongly recommend Black white and copper are the only colours of hats the two latter being only worn during the summer months To countenances of a lively expression whether fair or dark white hats have a very genteel and handsome appearance that is with a certain style of dress for in assuming them attention to colours is absolutely requisite No colour sorts so well with a chapeau blanc as green next blue and brown both should be of a lightish hue but beware of black If this be fancy it is one which I am inclined to think close observation should render general Clothes too should be invariably good when a white hat is assumed The great advantage in point of comfort in wearing white hats is their coolness contrasted with black the copperas in the dye of the latter having a very powerful influence in attracting the rays of the sun For this reason I have a great objection to the copper coloured that in fact are dyed with the mineral from whence they are named on which account they а
a are unhealthy in the extreme at the same time I think they have no redeeming qualities their hue being neither one thing nor the other but an indifferent sort of go between Perhaps some of my readers in wearing this description of hat beneath a burning sun may have complained of headach On reading the foregoing the reader I trust will know what to ascribe it to In wearing one of these hats that I am well convinced are very pernicious from their poisonous dye during a hot summerseason I think the probable chance would be greatly in favour of its causing a brain fever After all however that may be said on the subject black hats are decidedly when taken in a general view the most becoming and fashionable June July and August excepted when light colours of all descriptions of clothing are generally adopted for the sake of coolness The whole art of dress! or, The road to elegance and fashion, at the enormous saving of thirty per cent!!! By a cavalry officer (1830)

As we have wrapped up a series on cravats, our next series will look at a variety of hats including those listed below from Lloyd’s, a London hatter.

A General List of LLOYD's Fashionable invented manufactured and sold by at his Warehouse 92 Newgate London The John Bull The Wellington The Tandem The Tally Ho The Shallow The Coburg The Marquis The Eccentric The Regent The Kent The Cumberland The Esquire The Vis a Vis The Petersham The Tilbury The Count The Medium The Bang up The Jolliffe Clericus The Bon Ton The Baronet The Four in Hand A Bit of Blood The Baron A Noble Lord The New Dash A Paris Beau The Brutus The Exquisite The Irresistible The Pic Nic The Viscount And the Dandy

For more on gentlemen’s hats: Regency Fashion: The Care of Gentlemen’s Hats – Regency Reader (regrom.com)

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3 Responses to Regency Fashion: Gentlemen’s Hats

  1. M. L. Kappa says:
    April 30, 2023 at 12:39 pm

    A most a,using post, thanks

  2. susan alon says:
    May 9, 2023 at 9:12 am

    how did men keep their hats on during any activities outdoors or indoors in amorous situations