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TODAY'S BELOVEED ITEMS

Hat

A type of headwear. It serves to protect the head from temperature changes, falling objects, and other elements, and is broadly divided into two types: "hats" and "caps."

▶Related Q&A | Types of hats, your summer essential, and how to properly care for them

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Many readers may find this hard to believe, but there was a time when hats were largely excluded from men's fashion. This was from the 1960s to the 1980s, when men's head fashion revolved almost entirely around hairstyles, and hats, which concealed the hair, were seen as something old-fashioned and were avoided. It's true that styling your hair is something that's only really possible when you're young.


Secondary factors include the widespread habit of using baths or showers daily in developed countries, and the shift from coal to oil as an energy source, which has reduced soot falling on cities. In other words, the risk of hair getting dirty has decreased, and the need for hats, which also served to prevent this, has definitely declined. The evolution of hair styling products has also likely played a role.

Some say that President Kennedy's inauguration in 1961 marked a major turning point. He became the youngest president in American history, and the first to wear a top hat. This undoubtedly conveyed a message of "youth and change" to the general public.

Indeed, although filming took place the previous year, in the 1961 film "Breakfast at Tiffany's," the young Paul, who is in love with the protagonist Holly (played by Audrey Hepburn), does not wear a hat, while Holly's ex-husband, the elderly Doc from Texas, does. It seems certain that, at least in America, the equation "not wearing a hat = young" had been established around this time.

Text by Takahiro Iino

Takahiro Iino: After graduating from university, he worked for a major steel manufacturer before becoming an independent fashion journalist and researcher. He writes about men's clothing in general, including dress shoes and suits, and discusses topics from the perspective of someone with business experience. He also teaches modern and contemporary fashion history at a vocational school and appears on and supervises television programs, making him a well-known figure in men's fashion in general. His books include "Enjoying Dress Shoes: From the First Step to Mastery," "Enjoying Dress Clothing: Choosing an Outfit That Suits Your Body and Mind" (Asahi Shimbun Publications), and "A Comprehensive Guide to Shoe Polishing and Care for Long-Lasting Shoes" (Ikeda Shoten).

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Photo: ISETAN MEN'S net
Text: Takahiro Iino

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