Regency Fashion: The Wellington Top Hat

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THE WELLINGTON So called from the great Hero not for the popula rity of the name alone but for the reason that such a Hat was actually worn by him and in fact it is a shape uncommonly well suited both to his face and person the
former being a sort of long oval and the latter without the least appearance of bulk indeed a ponderous body tall or short with a round or what is vulgarly termed a pudding face cannot judiciously shelter itself under a Wellington This Hat is not only particularly becoming the person of his Grace but there is that in its appear ance which is strongly characteristic of his great mind for to an excellently formed crown of about seven inches deep overspreading an inch at top there is united a fine arched brim of small dimensions taking a smartish sweep of the fourth part of a circle and when placed on the head somewhat a la Francais carries with it an un common degree of brilliancy and fire and the fore and hind parts terminating in a close point clearly shows that whether advancing or retreating this modern CESAR is always sure to carry his point
Lloyd’s Treatise on hats (1819)

This is second in a series on Gentleman’s Hats:

Regency Fashion: Gentlemen’s Hats – Regency Reader (regrom.com)

Regency Fashion: The John Bull Top Hat – Regency Reader (regrom.com)

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