1920's Mens Hats: Great Gatsby Era Hat Styles

Mens hats during the 1920′s ranged from season to season. Warm summers such as in the time of the Great Gatsby brought out straw boaters and panamas as well as linen flat caps. The cooler seasons kept men in conservative suits with Bowlers, Derbies and Fedoras being the best hat choices.

Unlike today men and women always wore hats. Every day, every occasion, called for a hat to match your outfit. Light colors in summer. Dark colors in winter.

Let’s take a look at the different styles of summer hats.

1920s Flat Cap

The hat that the Great Gatsby wears most is the flat cap. Also knows as Ivy cap, cab driver hat, newsboy cap and the big apple cap. It is made of 8 triangle panels that meet at the top with a button made in the same material. It has a small brim that the top rests on. Overall is looks baggy not the tight narrow Ivy caps you see today. In the summer these caps were made of a light colored linen material and lined in silk for breath-ability. The could come in tweed, herringbone, and wool as well. Darker colors were worn in the winter-blues, greys, and browns-in solid, plaid, and check materials. All classes of men wore these hats even little boys selling newspapers on street corners hence the newsboy hat name.

1920s Boater or Skimmer Hat

1920's boater skimmer straw hat

Straw hats were even more popular for hot summer days then flat caps. Outdoor sporting became the new hobby for men and women. From tennis to biking to riding in your new car- the people of the 1920′s were outside a lot. Boating became popular and with it the Boater or Skimmer straw hat was worn. Hand-woven thick straw made for a heavy solid cylindrical hat with either a 2 inch or 3 inch brim. Skimmers had the smaller brims while boaters had the larger. Other than that their shape was the same. They each had a solid or striped petersham ribbon around the base. College kids and alumni often wore their college’s colors on their hat bands.

Barbershop quartets are often associated with these hats. Popular in the 1920′s for summer time entertainment they became the staple uniform hat for singing musicians.

1920s Panama Hat

1920's Panama Optimo hat

Another common straw hat for summer was the Panama, in particular the Optimo Panama hat. It was hand-woven and imported (from Ecuador.) It could be rolled up and tucked into a lapel pocket which made it very easy to travel with. The rolled crease down the center of the hat defines the Optimo style. Both men and women enjoyed this style of hat. They were, however, quite expensive so only the elite would buy one.

TIP: Don’t go budget on this panama hat. The non packable varieties need careful care to make sure the straw does not get bent. Once damaged it’s not reversible. Trust me, I’ve learned the hard way.

A sea of mens 1920's bowlers, boaters, flat caps and fedoras

Now lets take a look at year round hats:

1920s Bowler or Derby Hat

1920's Bowler Hat

A few decades before the 20th century a man developed an oval shaped, hard material, hat for riding. It was designed to protect a man’s head while riding through bushes and ducking under branches. It remained a popular hat with men even without horses. Although materials softened a bit from the early hard hats the Bowler, also know as a Derby, was the most common men’s hat of the 1920′s. Black was the most popular choice although stylish men also had brown, tan or grey bowlers to match their suits. Towards the end of the 1920′s when men’s and women’s fashion became bolder with color bowler hats appeared in blues, greens, and other more festive choices.

In the summer months a bowler could be made of straw although these were less common. Usually they were made of light weight, light colored felted wool.

A cousin of the bowler is the Homburg. Worn in the decade preceding the 20′s the Homburg looked like a bowler with a crease down the middle. These quickly went out of fashion for the smoother rounded bowler or creased Fedora.

1920s Fedora Hat

In the 1920′s the fedora hat was just entering the fashionable scene for men. Previously it was a women’s style hat. 1920′s fedoras feature wide 3 inch brims that were shaped downward on both the front and back side. They also had a sharp crease down the middle that could be a single crease or a more triangle shape with the base of the triangle at the back of that hat. Hats came uncreased when purchased so that the owner could decide how to shape it. Popular colors were black and gray. While it started out as a middle class hat, wealthy men associated with prohibition and crime, aka Al Capone and his gangsters, were icons for the hats in the 1920′s. A solid wide band, with flat bow wrapped the base of the hat. For extra style the band would be in a contrasting color like white on black. A feather on the side of the hat didn’t appear till a few decades later.

1920s Top Hat

The mid height silk Top hat with curled brim was still the best hat for formal wear in the 1920′s. It had been popular for a century and remained the hat for formal wear for another 50 years or more. The height and material changed over time but the top hat is a classic that everyman needed. Occasionally special occasions called for a top hat to be worn in the day. Gentlemen of 1st class status were the main supporters of top hats for both day and evening.

Here are some excellent 1920′s Gatsby era hat choices from around the web:

Best Choice! 1920's Mens Derby hat.

$186.95

1920's Mens Derby hat. This hat is a classic english derby style hat with a stingy roll brim and an accenting band around the hat. [Read more]

Store: Shoebuy.com

Derby Or Bowler Hat - Deluxe Felt Costume Hat

$5.99

Budget 1920's Hats. Deluxe felt classic style high crown derby or bowler hat for minimal use costume wear. [Read more]

Store: Anytime Costumes

NEWSBOY HAT Costume

$14.95

Soft wool blend hat with snap bill in assorted tweeds and plaids. One size. Great for classic 20's newsboys or current fashions! [Read more]

Store: Moon Costumes

1920's Style Skimmer Straw Hat

$47.99

Skimmer Straw Hat Perfect for a barbershop quartet! A beautifully woven natural straw hat with hat band. I own this and it's great. looks better in person. Available sizes:... [Read more]

Store: ASADART Ecommerce Specialty Shops

Wow! Fedora - Light Grey 20's Hat

$47.95

This Fedora hat is 100 percent wool felt with a flat brim, and a center dent top. It also features side dents, grosgrain band and trim, quail feathers, and a leatherette sw... [Read more]

Store: Shoebuy.com/Bagsbuy.com

Top Hat - Silk Deluxe

$11.99

Beautiful silk top hat for1920's formal events. [Read more]

Store: Anytime Costumes

Kangol Bamboo Arnold Tribly - Black

$49.95

The Arnold Trilby is a modern trilby shape with stingy snap brim that is slightly longer in the front and shorter in the back. Bamboo yarn is a soft handle, environmentally... [Read more]

Store: Shoebuy.com

1920's Mens Bailey English Derby Hat

$185.00

The many decades since saw the style define itself within a certain refined niche of fashion, but has experienced a stylistic rebirth in recent years This classic English b... [Read more]

1920′s Mens Great Gatsby Hat Style

1920s Flat Cap

1920s Boater or Skimmer Hat

1920s Panama Hat

1920s Bowler or Derby Hat

1920s Fedora Hat

1920s Top Hat

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

FREE 1920′s Fashion for Your Body Type ebook

Sign up for latest Vintage Dancer Fashion Finds and Coupon Deals!

Follow Me

Recent Posts

Titanic Edwardian Shoes!