In Freemasonry, as practiced in North American lodges, top hats are often associated with the position of Worshipful Master as he is the only member allowed the privilege of wearing a head covering to signify his leadership within the lodge. However, the Master is not obliged to wear a top hat, and can wear whatever type of hat he deems appropriate for the occasion. This is because there are varying degrees of formality in different Lodges, from formal wear to everyday dress. It is also common for a Worshipful Master to receive top-hat-related trinkets and gifts on either the day of his installation or as a going away present. [25] In other countries, especially in certain systems in Germany, top hats are worn by all members of the lodge. It is common to see top hats in stiff wool felt and even soft wool though these are not considered on the same level as the silk or fur plush or grey felt varieties. The standard crown shape nowadays is the 'semi-bell crown'; 'full bell crowns' and 'stovepipe' shaped toppers are rarer. The Hudson’s Bay Company, established in America in 1670 as a fur trading business, enjoyed a lucrative trade in beaver pelts. Brummel’s popularising of the top hat in the early 19th century played a role in further decimation of beaver populations. In popular culture, the top hat is frequently comic, subversive or ridiculous – worn by such varied characters as Willy Wonka, stage magicians, steampunk cosplayers, the Fat Controller and Slash from Guns n’ Roses.

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Hat Glossary (G)". Villagehatshop.com. Archived from the original on 2009-12-02 . Retrieved 2009-10-25.

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Fred Astaire recorded the song again in 1975 and it can be found on the album The Complete London Sessions. [4] Because of the rarity of vintage silk hats, and the expense of modern top hats, the vintage/antique market is very lively, with models in wearable condition typically hard to find; price often varies with size (larger sizes are typically more expensive) and condition. The song title refers to the formal wear required on a party invitation: top hat, white tie, and a tailcoat. Popular recordings in 1935 were by Fred Astaire and by Ray Noble and his Orchestra (vocal by Al Bowlly and The Freshmen). [1] Other notable recordings [ edit ]

Top hat - Wikipedia Top hat - Wikipedia

Read More As Royal Ascot encourages women to wear suits, Savile Row trailblazer Daisy Knatchbull shares her style rules According to fashion historians, the top hat may have descended directly from the sugarloaf hat; [2] otherwise it is difficult to establish provenance for its creation. [3] Gentlemen began to replace the tricorne with the top hat at the end of the 18th century; a painting by Charles Vernet of 1796, Un Incroyable, shows a French dandy (one of the Incroyables et Merveilleuses) with such a hat. [4] The first silk top hat in England is credited to George Dunnage, a hatter from Middlesex, in 1793. [5] The invention of the top hat is often erroneously credited to a haberdasher named John Hetherington. By the 1830s, fortunately for beaver populations, beaver pelt became démodé as the silk top hat appeared. Hoffmann, Frank W.; William G. Bailey (1994-07-07). Fashion & merchandising fads. Haworth Press. p. 260. ISBN 1-56023-031-2.

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O. E. Schoeffler (1973). Esquire's encyclopedia of 20th century men's fashions. New York: McGraw-Hill ISBN 978-0070554801 Rothman, Lily (5 May 2014). "The Met Ball Is White Tie This Year – But What Does That Even Mean?". Time. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015 . Retrieved 29 September 2015. Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p.598. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.