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Bowler -

The bowler hat was designed by Thomas and William Bowler in the mid-19th century, reportedly to provide an alternative to the top hat. The height of the top hat was problematic for groundskeepers who rode horseback past low-hanging branches. The bowler rocketed in popularity among working-class men across the UK, soon becoming a quintessential British accessory. 

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Bowler -

Fascinatingly, bowler hats have also become a major accessory in Bolivian women’s cultural dress, particularly since their introduction to South America in the 1920s. As the story goes, bowler hats were shipped to Bolivia for male railway workers but ended up being too small, so the local Quechua and Aymara women took the hats and adopted them into their dress. 

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Vueltiao -

The vueltiao is a traditional hat from Colombia which originated amongst the Zenú tribes. Made out of a local type of cane, the name of the hat is also a Colombian regionalism that originates in the word for "turn" or "lap" (Spanish vuelta), and arose due to the way the hat is made. The quality of the hat is determined by the number of “laps” of fibers braided together and its bending flexibility (more flexible means higher quality). 

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Aussie bush hat -

First used by military personnel in 1885, the wide-brimmed Aussie bush hat is made with waterproof rabbit fur felt and is comfortable in the hot Australian sun. It has since adorned the heads of state and royalty, celebrities, and most importantly people of the land, and it’s often called the Akubra after the most famous brand.

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Rastacap -

The rastacap (also called a rastafar or toppa) is a tall, round, knitted cap from Jamaica and Barbados, which is often also brightly colored. It's commonly thought of as a Rastafarian hat, and is indeed used by Rastafari for religious reasons as well as the practical reason to tuck their dreadlocks away. It's worn mostly by men and ranges in shape and size, and over time it has been linked with figures like Bob Marley along with socio-political statements. 

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Greek fisherman’s hat -

As far back as the early 19th century, this wool, visored cap has been a traditional mariner's accessory. It was particularly ubiquitous in coastal Mediterranean villages by the turn of the 20th century. But this style of hat only reached the rest of the world on the heads of stars like John Lennon and Bob Dylan.

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Sombrero -

Mexico’s signature wide-brimmed hat takes its name from the Spanish word for “shade,” and was designed for exactly that. This specific hat is suspected to trace back to the Mestizo cowboys of Central Mexico and has historically been linked to socioeconomic status. Wider brims, decorative elements, and more expensive materials were all indicators of wealth.

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Tam o’ shanter -

Scottish men have worn variations of bonnets (like the Glengarry bonnet and Balmoral hat) since the 16th century, but this particular hat became known as the tam o'shanter when Robert Burns published a poem by the same name in 1790. The floppy plaid hat was worn exclusively by men until the 1920s when derivatives were introduced to women’s fashion in Europe and America.

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Fez -

Also called a "tarboosh," this brimless, flat-topped felt cap is often identified with Moroccan and Middle Eastern men’s dress, though variations have been found everywhere from Cyprus to Serbia. The cap was popularized during the Ottoman Empire, when Sultan Mahmud II banned turbans and made the fez standard military garb. It was the dye from crimson berries native to Fez, Morocco, which originally gave the hat its characteristic hue.

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Panama hat -

These brimmed hats are traditionally made from the plaited leaves of a Toquilla Straw plant, hand-woven by craftsmen in Ecuador, not Panama! The hats became nominally tied to Panama due to their massive export from Ecuador to Panama during the 19th century, which famously helped Ecuadorian national hero Eloy Alfaro finance his liberal revolution. The Panama Hat was massively popular during the 19th century, considered as the prince of straw hats and worn by many famous figures. 

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Ushanka -

The hat most associated with Russia and its frigid winters is the ushanka, which derives its name from the Russian word for “ears” (ushi). The warm, fur headgear offers near-total coverage that was especially crucial for soldiers, and is still used by the Red Army. It's no longer a symbol of the Soviet Union and has now become a casual and cozy hat typically made from faux fur. 

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Beret -

While much of the world associates berets with French people and baguettes, the floppy, round hats first appeared in Europe as far back as the Bronze Age. It was only in the 19th century in France and Spain that it became mass-produced. The beret also became part of the uniform of many armies, but still, its association with France and fashion remains. 

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Tyrolean hat -

The Tyrolean hat, also known as the Alpine or Bavarian hat, was commonly made from green felt and featured feathers, flowers, or other ornaments in the hatband. It comes from Central European countries such as Austria, Germany, and Switzerland, and Tyrol itself was a region between present-day Italy and Austria. The hat remained a fashion staple throughout the 20th century, though these days it's most commonly seen during Oktoberfest.

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Conical Asian hat -

The conical Asian hat is called many names since it's not specific to one country or region in Asia, but instead is quite common across several East, South, and Southeast Asian countries including Vietnam, Japan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Taiwan, Nepal, Tibet, Thailand, etc. It’s a practical, lightweight hat that was designed to shield wearers from both sun and rain, making it an excellent choice for farmers. Athough, it should be noted, bejeweled and ornamental conical hats were also worn in the past as indicators of status by Asian nobility. 

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Kufi -

The kufi hat is a brimless, close-fitting cap traditionally worn by Muslim men throughout the world, including North, East, and West Africa, as well as parts of South Asia. It can be a part of the national dress of different countries and even different religions. It also has various styles: in the world of Islam, crocheted kufi hats are popular, meanwhile patterned kufi hats are typically preferred in many parts of Africa. 

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Montera -

The montera hat has its roots in the traditional folk dress of the Iberian peninsula. It's usually covered in astrakhan fur, lined inside with velvet, and sometimes has the image of a saint printed inside for good luck. The shape is meant to resemble the horns of a bull, and it's most often seen on bullfighters. 

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Karakul/Uzbek hat -

Karakul translates to "black fur" in the Uzbek language, and this hat which peaks at the top and folds flat when taken off, originally comes from Bukhara. The style became popular among Soviet leaders as well as leaders in Afghanistan and is typically worn by men in Central and South Asia.

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Herero hat -

The Herero women of Namibia have a style of dressing influenced by the wives of German colonists who first came to the country in the early 20th century. They don Victorian-style dresses paired with the Herero hat, a horizontally horned headdress which became a symbol of respect and pays homage to the horned cattle.

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Gat -

The Gat is a traditional Korean hat originally worn by men during the Joseon Dynasty. It’s made from horsehair with a bamboo frame, and a wide semi-transparent brim. Only married and middle-class men during the late 19th century could wear a Gat. It represented their social status and protected their topknots, which were known as sangtu.

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Fila/Aso Oke hat -

An aso oke hat (known as a fila in the Yoruba language) is a soft, hand-woven hat traditionally worn by the Yoruba people of Western Africa. It's typically made of aso oke fabric, cotton, velvet, or damask, and lined with cotton. They're also worn by other African ethnicities, though exclusively by men. The hat fits snugly around the head and is commonly worn pushed to one side, resting above the wearer's ear—the side to which you push it is said to signify your marital status. 

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Fascinator -

More of an ornate headpiece than a hat, the term "fascinator" originally referred to a fine lacy head covering traditionally meant for formal religious occasions. But in the last century, it has totally transformed into a statement-making headpiece meant to be paired with formal attire at events that now include things like the Royal Ascot. They can include feathers, felt, bows, ribbons, flowers, beads, and so forth. 

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Tuque/Toque -

Most popularly associated with Canada, a tuque (sometimes spelled toque or touque) is a warm, brimless, knitted cap, traditionally made of wool and usually worn in winter. Originally, toques were found in 13th-16th century Europe, and were revived and modernized in the 1930s.

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Cowboy hat -

This high-crowned, wide-brimmed hat is an iconic part of Old West cowboy lore, and it's still worn today by many people. It's particularly popular among ranch workers in the US, western Canada, and northern Mexico--along with country singers and rodeo performers. There are many variations on the hat, usually its crown and brim, for reasons including the weather and plain fashion preference. 

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Chullo -

Chullos are woolen hats with earflaps that have been used in the Andean Mountain region since pre-Hispanic times. They are typically made from alpaca, llama, or sheep’s wool, and have insulating qualities and the ability to be tied under the chin. Various colors have different significance among the Andean natives, and the style has more recently been popularized around the world by snowboarders.

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Fulani -

A Fulani hat is a conical hat made of plant fibers with leather detailing at the brim and top, and sometimes with decorative leather elements in the middle. It comes from the Fulani people in West Africa, usually worn by cattle-herders, and is often worn above a Turban. 

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Newsboy cap -

Known by many other names, the newsboy cap first peaked in popularity in the 1910s and 1920s in the UK and US. Traditionally made of wool, tweed, and cotton, the cap has a similar shape as a flat cap, but the body is rounder, fuller, and usually features panels sewn together from a central point on the top of the hat, covered by a cloth button. The body of the cap is also pulled forward over the brim, often with a button to attach it. 

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Isicholo/Zulu hat -

In many African cultures, hats represent an extension of older traditional hairstyles, and this hat reportedly developed out of a 19th-century conical hairstyle which was worn as a cultural and social symbol of married status. The hat is said to originate among the Nguni (particularly Zulu) people in South Africa. 

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Keffiyeh/Kufiya -

The kufiya or keffiyah, which also has other names in Arabic and Persian, is a traditional Arab headdress typically worn by men and fashioned from a square, usually cotton, scarf. It's commonly used in arid regions to provide protection from the sun as well as dust and sand. The distinctive woven check pattern is said to have possibly originated in ancient Mesopotamia, weaving fishing nets or ears of grain instead. The Hirbawi Textile Factory in Palestine is said to be the last factory to produce the original kufiya.

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Biretta -

This square cap with three or four peaks and a tuft or pom at the top is traditionally worn by Catholic clergy and some Anglican and Lutheran clergy, but also academics holding a doctoral degree from a pontifical faculty. Occasionally, you can see the biretta also worn by advocates in law courts. 

Sources: (Hat Guide) (Matador Network) (Trip Hobo)

See also: Bizarre status symbols through history

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