A Tip of the Hat Trivia Quiz

The fedora first became popularized in the late 19th century, and was originally marketed as a women's hat. In fact, the name came from the 1882 play "Fedora" by Victorien Sardou. In the play, the heroine is a Russian countess named 'Fedora Romanoff,' who seeks revenge for the death of her fiancé, who was killed in a duel.

The popularity of the play, with Fedora wearing the hat that would bear her name, quickly led to the fedora becoming a fashionable accessory for both men and women.

The flat cap is a type of hat that has been popular in various forms since the 14th century. Originally, it was worn by working-class men in England and Ireland as a practical and durable head covering for outdoor work. The earliest versions of the flat cap were made from wool or tweed and had a simple, functional design with a flat crown and small brim.

Over time, the flat cap became more fashionable and began to be worn by a wider range of people. In the early 20th century, it was popularized as a stylish accessory by upper-class golfers and country gentlemen in the United Kingdom. It was also worn by newsboys and dockworkers in the United States, giving it a more urban and working-class connotation.

The boater hat originated in the late 1800s as a practical hat for outdoor activities such as boating, fishing, and sailing. Its sturdy construction and brim made it useful for protecting the wearer from the sun and rain. However, it soon became fashionable among upper-class men as a stylish accessory for summer activities such as garden parties, yachting, and sporting events. It was also popularized in America as a symbol of the 'Gay Nineties' era, when it was often worn by barbershop quartets and performers in vaudeville shows.

In the early 20th century, the boater hat became associated with the British schoolboy uniform, and it was often worn by schoolboys as part of their summer uniform. It continued to be popular throughout the early 1900s and was frequently worn by politicians, entertainers, and sportsmen. However, its popularity declined in the mid-20th century as fashion trends changed.

The pork pie hat has been popular in various forms since the mid-19th century. It gets its name from its resemblance to a type of savoury pastry that has a similar shape. The pork pie hat was originally designed as a practical hat for men, made from wool or felt with a sturdy construction that made it durable and long-lasting. It was often worn by working-class men, particularly those in the entertainment industry such as vaudeville performers, musicians, and actors.

In the early 20th century, the pork pie hat became more fashionable and was popularized as a stylish accessory by jazz musicians and artists in the United States. It was also worn by actors in Hollywood films, giving it a wider audience and further cementing its status as a symbol of cool and sophistication.

The bowler hat was invented in 1849 by William and Thomas Bowler, two British hat makers. The brothers were asked by a customer to create a hat that would protect his head from low-hanging branches while horseback riding.

The new hat was an instant success and quickly became popular among British working-class men. The bowler was practical, sturdy, and affordable, and it soon became a symbol of respectability and middle-class values. By the late 19th century, the bowler hat had become an essential accessory for businessmen, bankers, and civil servants in Britain and throughout the British Empire.

The bowler also came to be known as a derby hat after becoming popular in America among fans of horse racing. The hat was worn by spectators at the annual Epsom Derby horse race in England, and it became associated with the event. Over time, Americans began referring to the hat as the 'derby' in reference to the race.

The Homburg is a type of formal hat that originated in Germany in the late 19th century. It was named after the town of Bad Homburg, a popular spa destination near Frankfurt. The Homburg was popularized by Prince Edward VII of Britain, who wore it during a visit to Bad Homburg in 1894.

The Homburg became popular among upper-class men in Europe and America in the early 20th century, and it was often worn with formal attire. It was also a favourite of gangsters and movie stars in the 1920s and 1930s, adding to its mystique and popularity.

The Deerstalker is famously associated with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, but it was not actually mentioned in the original stories written by Doyle. Instead, it was first depicted in illustrations of the character that appeared in the Strand Magazine in the late 19th century.

Regardless, the deerstalker hat was originally a type of hunting hat that was popular among gamekeepers and hunters in Scotland and England. The design of the hat made it particularly well-suited for outdoor activities, as it provided protection from the elements and allowed the wearer to blend into their surroundings.

Similarly to the fedora, the trilby hat got its name from a stage play. In this case, the play was an 1895 adaptation of George du Maurier's 1894 novel "Trilby," in which the main character (Trilby O'Ferrall) is a young artist's model living in Paris, and three Englishmen fall in love with her. In the play, Trilby wore the hat seen here - a variant of the fedora with the narrow brim turned up at the back.

The popularity of the trilby hat really took off in the 1920s and 1930s. It became a fashionable accessory for both men and women, and was worn by many Hollywood stars of the era, such as Cary Grant and Frank Sinatra. After falling out of fashion for a while, it experienced a resurgence in the 1980s, when it became associated with the 'new wave' music scene.

The Panama hat actually originated in Ecuador in the early 1600s. The hats are traditionally made from the leaves of the Toquilla palm, which is indigenous to Ecuador, and the art of weaving the hats was developed by the native people of Ecuador, who have been weaving them for centuries.

In the 1800s, European and North American merchants saw the potential to market the hats abroad, and they became popularized outside of Ecuador. The hats were particularly popular among gold prospectors during the California Gold Rush of the 1850s, who found that the lightweight, breathable hats were ideal for working in the hot, sunny conditions. It gained further popularity when it was worn by US President Theodore Roosevelt during a visit to the Panama Canal in 1906.

The Stetson hat is a type of cowboy hat that was first created by John B. Stetson in 1865. Although he originally hailed from New Jersey, Stetson moved to the western United States in search of adventure and new opportunities. His idea for the iconic hat came while living in Colorado, when he noticed that the cowboys in the area needed a hat that was durable, functional, and could protect them from the harsh elements of the western landscape. The wide-brimmed, high-crowned hat was designed to keep the sun off the wearer's face and neck, and the high crown provided ventilation to keep the head cool.

The Stetson became an instant hit among cowboys, who appreciated its durability and functionality. The hat also became a symbol of the American West and the cowboy way of life, as seen in countless movies and TV shows, cementing its place in American popular culture.