Technically, I could have posted this yesterday as it was National Hat Day. Instead, I am posting today because of the anniversary you will read about in the upcoming paragraphs….
High society owes “a hat tip” (pun intended) to haberdasher John Hetherington. Are you familiar with him? He is responsible for an item that became a formal necessity for men. From weddings to proms to presidential inaugurations, the top hat was a must have! Believe it or not, the hat got Mr. Hetherington in a spot of trouble!
It was on this day in 1797 that Mr. Hetherington appeared in court. After he had stepped out onto the streets of London wearing the distinctive headgear, it caused quite a stir.
When he appeared in public wearing the hat, people noticed. So much so that a crowd formed. Hetherington was eventually arrested and given a summons for disturbing the public peace! In court, he was found guilty of wearing a hat “calculated to frighten timid people.” He was bound over to keep the peace in consideration of a sum of 50 pounds.
The arresting officer told the court that nobody had seen anything like it before. He said,
“He had such a tall and shiny construction on his head that it must have terrified nervous people. The sight of this construction was so overstated that various women fainted, children began to cry and dogs started to bark. One child broke his arm among all the jostling.”
Mr. Hetherington had someone on his side. The next day, The Times newspaper reported: “Hetherington’s hat points to a significant advance in the transformation of dress. Sooner or later, everyone will accept this headwear. We believe that both the court and the police made a mistake here.”
The newspaper was right. The top hat, which went by several names including Toppers, Chimney Pots, and Stove Pipes, grew in popularity. It finally achieved the ultimate stamp of respectability in 1850 when Prince Albert, began to wear one. Thus giving the headgear the royal seal of approval. There was no going back after that . . .
For my Senior Prom, a top hat was a MUST HAVE. I wish more people would wear them more often.
Various Ramblings of a Nostalgic Italian 
Interesting history. Can’t say we had such a tradition when I was in high school, but it would have clashed with our long flowing locks anyway.
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that’s hilarious! If it’s not the ‘cat’s meow’ at least it’s the dog’s bark apparently. Frightening timid children for over 200 years… Can’t say I ever had one or wore one though. I have had a couple of fedoras in my life though.
Yesterday was Hat Day… that makes sense since MLB had a story on their site of the most popular minor league baseball caps yesterday
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I love tophats! I saw a video “Listen to what The Man Said” and Paul has one on. No one wore it as good as my buddy Harpo… love the post Keith!
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Fun! Gene Wilder can definitely pull it off, and you too, Keith! Does JFK’s looks a little small?
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You are too kind! I wondered about JFK’s. I just thought it was the angle that made it look small, but when I went back to the photo, it does seem to be “short”
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Right?!
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