Hollywood celebrities have played a stellar role in popularizing hats through the twentieth century, but surprisingly, they did little to uphold the top hats, also known as stovepipes. Only in some period films could we see some of the characters wearing top hats, but it was never inspirational to adapt the headgear as a fashion accessory of the contemporary times. However, the most unlikely influencers of top hats were the American Presidents, and the most prominent figure that comes to mind is Abraham Lincoln. Despite his tall frame of 6 ft 4 inches, perhaps the tallest of the US presidents, Lincoln preferred to wear the top hat as part of his attire that made him look larger than life, an image that he successfully portrayed to people even through his acts.
Although it is hard to envision Abraham Lincoln without his top hat, no other American president showed as much affection for the top hat by including it as a part of their outfit. Rarely will you find any photographs of any American president, except Lincoln donning the top hat, which is integral to American history. Before we discover the historical roots of the top hats within the American Presidential system, let us look at Lincoln’s close attachment with the top hats that he wore so much affectionately.
The top hat that Lincoln wore
Abraham Lincoln was never concerned about hat care and did not mind wearing a battered and bashed top hat regardless of the occasion, which only shows his simplicity, loyalty, and love showered on the headgear. So much indifferent was Lincoln towards his looks that rarely he thought about changing hats, as admitted by the actor playing his wife while portraying the role in a play. At the same time, his biographer points out that Lincoln bought a new hat from a shop in Broadway on the day in 1860 when he gave his famous speech in New York at the Cooper Institute.
Although Lincoln did not ever pay much attention to his looks and attire, he wore different designs of top hats. He wore the lower silk plush hat during the first inauguration in 1860, as the hat was already in fashion during those times. His love for top hats only grew with time, and he continued with it during his second tenure that began in 1864 until his assassination. The trend that continued for almost a decade after his death indicates the impact he created among people. The hat sustained its popularity even without him for nearly a decade.
Top hats are part of the American Presidential tradition
It was a tradition for the American presidents to wear the top hat during the inauguration ceremony when the president took the oath in office. Although the design and style of top hats remained rooted in tradition without ever trying to adapt to the contemporary styles, the presidents did not mind wearing the hat as part of the ceremony and then never wear it again. But only Abraham Lincoln started wearing the hat regularly, which later became his identity. The tradition of wearing the top hat during the inauguration was broken for the first time by president Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953 but was again brought back by John F. Kennedy in 1961 but perhaps for the last time.
Top hats and the Olympics
The adoption of top hats for elitist occasions was amply evident from its inclusion in the Olympics’ top sporting events. The formal, flat crowned hats have been a part of the Olympics since 1912 as it was a part of the dress worn by the participants of the equestrian events. Moreover, the riders proudly wore the hat when participating in events like show jumping, dressage, and cross country events. However, of late, the top hat is no more a part of the dress of the participants in the equestrian events of the Olympics.
The Victorian inspiration for women
It will be a mistake to assume that top hats have become extinct. On the contrary, women or more particularly celebrities are now wearing top hats that used to be exclusively male headgear. The iconic hat that reminds us of the Victorian age now exists in a slightly altered form as womens top hat, which has shrunk in the dimensions to suit the female frame and face but maintains the design features that make it distinctly identifiable. Hands crafted top hats available from leading hat makers with or without bands are some of the top-selling hats that might even remind us of the El Dorado with its exquisite style.
Once again, the Hollywood women folk have come forward to bring back the top hat in fashion and break the male domination that the hat enjoyed for almost two centuries. The new millennium has added the desired feminine looks to top hats that are now drawing more women towards it.
