What was the name of Charlie Chaplin's hat and what is its history?

Of course, everyone watched movies with one of the most brilliant comic actors of all time. And his image is very strongly associated with us with the appearance of his hero - both vagabonds and gentlemen - and especially with his headdress. But what was the name of Charlie Chaplin's hat? Many immediately recognize it as a bowler - a symbol of Britain. This masterpiece of art was created in the middle of the 19th century by two brothers named Bowler: Thomas and William. They made it specially at the request of the huntsmen, hunters and foresters, who needed a special headdress. He did not have to fly off his head like a cylinder, when the branches clung to him.

When we talk about the name of Charlie Chaplin's hat, and why the great actor wore it, we should not forget that it was made of strong felt. Elasticity and resistance to it gave impregnation with a special solution of mercury. When the first buyer checked the ordered headgear, he even stood on it with his feet to make sure of its strength. But what was the name of Charlie Chaplin's hat originally? Coke - the name of the first buyer. And then it was called by the name of the company, which engaged in their mass production. This is "Bowler (in English" bowler ") and son."

This hat became the favorite headgear of bankers, then the military, who wore a civilian dress in the city. Until now, the etiquette of the officers of the royal guard of Her Majesty obliges them to wear a bowler. The very same type of hat became one of the signs of all "true English" - like tea at five o'clock in the evening, a London umbrella and spleen. Even some dandies flinched and switched from the cylinders to the pots. Women also took a great interest in this dress - both riders, and suffragettes, fighters for the rights of the "second sex".

What was the name of Charlie Chaplin's hat in other countries, where she also became popular? In France and Germany - "melon", and in the USA - "derby". In America, a comfortable hat has become a favorite headdress of different social layers - "villains" and sheriffs, millionaires and handymen. And in Bolivia, it became so fashionable that the women of the Indian tribes-the Quechua-Aymara, for example-do not even go outside without her. It is said that this headdress "came" to the Latin American country for it to be worn by workers from Italy. But the sizes were small and they came only for the Indian women. Since then they have been wearing bowlers with pride. But in the African country of Nigeria, these hats are worn only by men - perhaps in memory of the English colonization.

The fashion for this headdress lasted until the 60s of last century. Then it became more ceremonial than everyday. But the bowler does not give up! Chaplin's hat was even part of the uniform - English police women wear her slightly modified version. And some companies - permanent participants of world fashion shows "haute couture", like, for example, Hermes - made it one of the glamorous accessories. And psychoanalysts assure that the bowler fits the original and eccentric people. The original hat of Charlie Chaplin, along with the cane of the great actor, was sold for a lot of money at the Los Angeles auction in 2012. They were bought for 62 thousand dollars.