Inspired by various military uniforms throughout the 1900s, army caps are small caps with a close fitting shape and usually short rounded peaks in front, meant to be worn as a casual alternative to a baseball cap. They tend to come in warmer fabrics such as wool or leather, but can also be found in sturdy cotton canvas or even heavier linen for summer. Initially made as menswear, the army cap has more recently become popular with women as well and are a currently fashionable item used by many fashion designers for their runway shows.

When airplanes were first invented, they were open to the wind! Pilots needed a hat to keep their ears and heads warm in the chilly conditions (and have a place to put their goggles when they weren't in use) so the aviator hat was born. Usually made of leather for extra protection, even as planes became fully enclosed the aviator hats were worn through WWII until they were replaced by caps for commercial pilots and helmets for military. 

Trapper hats are a similar style to the aviator, usually made of leather or wool, but more often lined inside with shearling or animal fur for added warmth. They are derived from the Russian ushanka, and were made popular for winter by fur trappers who worked out in the snow.

The modern day baseball cap came about in 1860. It was first worn by the Brooklyn Excelsiors and featured a rounded crown, a long peak, and a button top. The baseball cap was nicknamed the "Brooklyn Style" cap and quickly became one of the most popular hat styles in the world. The earliest caps had a floppy construction and during the 1940s latex rubber was added to the caps as a stiffening material, giving them a more structured look. The peak helped protect the player's eyes from the sun and the team's logo is typically embroidered onto the front of the cap. Baseball caps were traditionally made with a fitted shape however these days they can be found with adjustable backs made from Velcro, snaps, and various other adjustable closures.

When most people think of berets many things come to mind; France, the military, painters, and more. Berets have been an iconic style of hat for hundreds of years. While the modern beret has only been around since the 19th century, similar styles of hat to the beret can be seen as far back in history as the Bronze Age. The beret is a round, flat hat which is usually made from woven, hand-knit, or crocheted wool. The commercial production of Basque style berets began in the 17th century in the Oloron-Sainte-Marie area of southern France. It was originally just a local craft however in the 19th century beret-making became industrialized and expanded to further regions outside of southern France including Italy and soon after, the entire world. Berets are also seen worn as a part of various military outfits and as a popular fashion item.

A historical hat from the late 1700s, typically worn as a part of the European and American Military as well as by many naval officers. Most famously worn by Napoleon Bonaparte, the hat was worn by many generals during the Napoleonic period. The Bicorne hat evolved from the Tricorne hat but rather than having three points, the Bicorne had two. The hat had a rounded crown with the wide front and back of the brim folded up and pinned together. The front of the hat would feature a cockade. In the early 1800s the style of the hat changed slightly and was no longer worn side to side but rather front to back. The cockade was worn on the right side of the hat and the Bicorne received the nickname of "cocked hat". The Bicorne was used up until the early 20th century as a formal dress hat for certain military and naval forces. Today the hat is seen worn as a part of certain formal dress uniforms in the United Kingdom, worn by the Knights of Columbus, and in various smaller occurrences around the world. 

The biretta is believed to date back as far as the 10th century however it may in fact be even older than that. It is a square cap which is constructed with three or four peaks and a tuft atop the hat. It was thought to have originated as an academic cap during the Middle Ages and transitioned into a religious accessory after the synod of Bergamo ordered the clergy to wear the Biretta in 1311. Most commonly worn by Roman Catholic clergy, the hat can also be seen worn by various other clergy around the world including Anglican and Lutheran. The Biretta is also the predecessor to the modern day Mortarboard.

A hat of many names, the boater hat is one of the most popular hats in the entire world. It is known as a boater hat, straw boater, skimmer, sennit hat, and many other colloquial names. The hat reached its peak popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The hats were traditionally made from the sennit straw with a wide grosgrain hat band. They have a flat top and flat brim. To keep their stiff shape they were dipped and painted with a thick shellac or hat stiffener to help them stay durable and keep their rigid shape. Today the hats are made from a wider range of materials including wheat braid, panama straw, paper straw, or cheap plastic for party store costumes. However, the authentic Italian boater hats are still made from the same Sennit straw. During the peak of their popularity, especially around the 1920s, boater hats could be seen worn by everyone. Today they are most often seen on Barbershop Quartets, rowing teams, or as a popular fashion item. Many famous celebrities were known for sporting a boater hat including actors Harold Lloyd and Maurice Chevalier.

While the exact origins of the chef's hat remain unknown, many believe it originated from the head coverings worn by chefs while working in the kitchen. The chef's hat is called a toque blanche which is French for "White Hat", a very literal naming for this classic style. The modern chef's hat if often attributed to French chefs Marie-Antoine Careme and Auguste Escoffier and featured a high pleated crown which was starched to hold its shape. The different heights of the chef's hats can be used to denote someone's rank in the kitchen and the 100 folds of the hat are said to represent the 100 different ways a chef knows to cook an egg.

Created in 1908 by French Milliner Caroline Reboux, the Cloche hat quickly became one of the most popular styles of hat in the world. It reached its peak popularity in the 1920s, seen worn on many women and found in many ateliers. The hat has a rounded crown with a very short peak similar to the shape of a bell. The hat gets its name from the French word for "bell" named after its bell-like shape. The hats were typically made from a soft felt which shaped to the wearer's head giving a close-fit silhouette. Today they are seen made from a variety of different materials including sisal and other straws for summer weight cloches.

The deerstalker is a very literally named cap. Its original use was by hunters as they stalked deer. The deerstalker is a fabric cap with a front and back peak and side earlaps which can be tied up atop the hat or worn down. The purpose of the dual peaks was to protect both the face and the back of the neck from the sun during long periods outside. This came in handy especially for hunters who spent a lot of time outdoors. Many traditional deerstalkers were made from a wool tweed with a herringbone, houndstooth, or tweed pattern for camoflouge. Today most hunting hats are either red and black or orange and black for the safety of the hunters. When most people think of a deerstalker cap they immediately think of Sherlock Holmes. While Sir Arthur Conan Doyle never described Holmes as wearing a deerstalker exactly, he is described as wearing an ear-flapped travelling cap. When the stories were illustrated many drew Holmes wearing the Deerstalker cap and ever since it has become his iconic style. In addition to Sherlock Holmes wearing the deerstalker, it is now seen as the stereotypical detective's hat.

The word Fedora comes from a play of the same name written by French author Victorien Sardou. The play premiered in 1882 and starred a young Sarah Bernhardt in the role of Princess Fedora Romazov. In the play Bernhardt wears a soft felt hat with a center crease in the crown. This style became known as the Fedora and became an extremely popular women's hat style. In 1924 Edward, Prince of Wales, began wearing fedora style hat and the style of fedoras was adopted by men. It became a popular style for its fashionable look along with the fact that it provided good protection against the elements. In the early to mid-20th century the Fedora was at the peak of its popularity. However as the fashions shifted to a more casual style after the 1950s, the fedora became less popular until the beginning of the 21st century where they began to grow again in popularity. As celebrities and hipsters began wearing hats again, the popularity of fedoras skyrocketed. They also saw a brief resurgence of popularity with the Indiana Jones franchise and Harrison Ford's iconic Indiana Jones Fedora. Many celebrities have been noted for wearing a fedora including Frank Sinatra, Johnny Depp, Michael Jackson, Bruno Mars, and many others.

The Fez has a long and complicated history. Very few other hat styles have as much controversy surrounding them as the Fez does. The fez is a cylindrical, close fitting cap usually in a vibrant red color. They are sometimes adorned with a tassel attached to the top of the cap and often lined with a satin fabric. It is commonly believed that the Fez originated in ancient Greece or the Balkans however the exact origin of the style remains unknown. In 1826 Sultan Mahmud II of the Ottoman Empire began his reforms of the military by changing their uniforms and adopting a western style of dress. The fez was worn with a cloth wrapped around it and the turban was banned entirely. Because of this change the Fez became a symbol of the modern times in the Ottoman Empire. The name is thought to have come from the city of Fez which was known to produce the dye used in the iconic red fezzes. After WWI the Ottoman Empire ceased to exist and the Fez was banned by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the president of Turkey in 1925. This was once again done to try to modernize Turkey and try to adopt more western culture. The Fez had become a highly politicized piece of headwear, some associating it with Royalism, some seeing it as the sign of their oppressors. Today, while the Fez is seen as taboo by some, it is still worn by many including a number of fraternal organizations such as the Shriners.

The Greek Fisherman's Cap originated as a workwear hat for fisherman and factory workers in the early 19th century. It quickly evolved into one of the most popular hat styles, being worn by workers, politicians, and even movie stars. It is also sometimes referred to as a Fiddler Cap after being worn by Chaim Topol in the film adaptation of Fiddler on the Roof. It was also seen worn by Marlin Brando in The Wild One making it a popular style among the greaser and rocker subcultures.

The Gauchos were known as skilled migratory horsemen. They are a national symbol in Argentina and Uruguay, known for being brave and unruly. The gauchos traditionally wore a felted hat with a round crown and flat brim. Over the years the styles have changed and evolved slightly. The modern day gaucho hat is typically a black felt hat with a wide flat brim and a flat top crown. The hat is also referred to as the Bolero and has had a resurgence of popularity after Beyonce wore them in her world tour along with all of her backup dancers. The Gaucho hat is also similar in shape to the Amish style hats.

A traditional Scottish hat, the Glengarry is a tight-fitting fabric hat made from a thick wool material. The side of the cap is decorated with a rosette cockade and the top of the hat typically has a small pom-pom as decoration. Long ribbons hang off the back of the hat to finish the look. The origins of this cap are slightly unclear however most believe it to have originated from the Glengarry Fencibles, a local militia who were known to wear Glengarry style caps. The caps eventually made their way into the mainstream uniform of the Scottish military by 1850s by which point they were the standard dress. This style of cap is worn by the Royal Regiment of Scotland and is worn both as a part of Scottish military dress as well as civilian Highland dress. It can be worn both formally and informally and is sometimes worn as an alternative to the tam o' shanter.

The Jockey's Cap or Equestrian Helmet is a protective helmet used by those riding horses. They are made from a structured, protective helmet underneath with a front peak and are covered with a paneled cloth covering. These close fitting caps are designed to protect the wearer should they fall off of their horse. Most competitive riding events require the riders to wear certified helmets that have been designed and tested to ensure they will protect the wearer. Helmets are also worn outside of competitive events and many states require riders under a certain age to wear a helmet while riding.

Mortarboard

Flat, square head-cover worn by professors and students for solemn academic occasions.

The newsboy cap gets its name from its wide popularity among newsboys or "newsies". While it is thought of as a boy's cap, this style was worn by men of all ages during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They were extremely popular among the working class however they were not strictly limited to them and could in fact be seen worn by people of all walks of life. The upper class typically wore them for leisure activities such as golf and driving, while the working class adopted the hats for everyday wear. It is traditionally a 6 or 8 paneled cap with a front peak. The front peak occasionally has a snap front. The shape varies from slim fitting to the wide, exaggerated shape sometimes referred to as the applejack style cap. This style has many different names including the Gatsby cap, poor boy cap, paperboy cap, and many others depending on region. Newsboy caps are most often made from wool and leather for the cold weather and lighter materials such as linen and cotton for the summer weather.

The picture hat is a large, dramatic hat also known as the Gainsborough hat, the Gainsborough Chapeau, or the Garden Hat. The name of the hat comes from the portraits of society women painted by Thomas Gainsborough throughout the 18th century. These hats range dramatically in style, often changing from decade to decade. The major defining factor for a picture hat is the dramatic size. One of the most famous examples of this hat is the large black and white hat worn by Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Doolittle in the movie My Fair Lady. This style is also heavily favored by Queen Elizabeth II and much of the royal family. These hats also have secured their place as the style of the Henley Royal Regatta as well as many horse races, including the Kentucky Derby and the Royal Ascot.

The pith helmet is named for the material commonly used in constructing the hat; Pith. Pith is a spongy material found in the center of many types of plant stems. The pith is extracted from the plants and then dried to use in construction of the pith helmets. The pith is used as the base layer and forms the hard, protective interior of the helmet. Over time many other materials were used in the construction of pith helmets including cork, straw, and other similar materials. The hat was constructed from a stiff interior which formed the base of the hat and was then covered in a fabric, typically cotton, to finish the look of the hat. These hats were used as travel hats by many European countries as well as military attire beginning in the late 1800s. This hat became associated with the British Empire due to it's wide use, however the hat was worn by many European countries and the United States at it's peak popularity.

The Pork Pie style hat has been a popular style since the mid-19th century, reaching it's peak popularity between the 1920s-1940s. The hat bears a similar resemblance to an actual Pork Pie, a popular British food. Many beilve that this may be where the hat's name originates from. The first Pork Pie style hats were worn by women and trimmed with ribbons and feathers. In the 20th century the hat transitioned to being more of a men's style hat with the style changing slightly. The Pork Pie is known for it's short brim and a creased, rounded crown. In the 1920s silent film actor Buster Keaton wore many Pork Pie style hats made from both straw and felt. In the recent decades they have become a popular accessory among many jazz musicians, hipsters, and Bryan Cranston as Walter White on the TV show Breaking Bad.

The puritan hat, also known as the Capotain or Flat-top hat, was a popular style of hat worn from the 1590s through the mid 1600s. This style of hat was commonly worn by both men and women in England and parts of Europe. While the stereotypical Puritan hat is often depicted with a large buckle on the front, this would not have been accurate as these hats were not adorned with buckles. The hat would have been made from a high-quality beaver felt, often taking two full beavers to make just one hat.

The Skull-cap is a close-fitting cap, typically knit or made from a fabric with a paneled crown. There are many variations on the skull-cap worn in many cultures for a number of different occasions. Some are worn in religious contexts such as the Zucchetto worn by clerics in Catholic churches or the Kippah, worn by Orthodox Jews. The skull-cap is also worn by many as a casual style hat. It is an incredibly popular fashion item as well as being a practical style for the colder weather.

The Smoking Cap, also known as the lounge cap, was a popular hat during 19th century England. They were designed to be worn by men when they were smoking to prevent their hair from smelling like smoke afterwards. They were usually worn inside and paired with the traditional smoking jackets. The smoking cap is a rounded cap made from a soft fabric. The shape is similar in style to the classic Fez but it sits lower on the head. Occasionally they feature a tassel attached to the crown.

The Slouch Cap, not to be confused with the military Slouch Hat, is a soft, unstructured cap with a high crown and flexible brim. This style is also referred to as the Garbo hat after the style often worn by actress Greta Garbo in many of her films. It has remained a popular casual style of cap, most often seen in a knit style

Tam-o' Shanter

While it may be one of the most popular hat styles, the exact origins of the top hat are slightly disputed. Some believe that it evolved from the flat-topped Puritan (or Capotian) Hat however others believe that it has it's own separate origins. There is a wide variety of the different types of top hats, ranging in shape, construction, and material. The Stovepipe Hat was a tall-crown top hat from the 19th century made popular by U.S. President Abraham Lincoln. Another popular style of top hat was the Satin-Collapsible Top Hat. This style was made from a black satin fabric over a structure inside which allowed the hat to collapse completely flat. These hats were worn for formal events, often with a full tuxedo and became popular accessories for opera-goes. They were originally made to be a solid structure however as people went to the opera with them they found a need for more portable ones. The collapsible hat was created so that it could fold flat and slip under the wearer's seat at the opera. Another popular style of top hat is a beaver fur top hat. These hats were constructed from a stiff base of Buckram and then covered with the soft beaver fur for a beautiful finished look. Today top hats are made from a wide variety of materials including wool felt and fur felt. The top hats are luxurious and stylish and have been worn on a number of famous people, both real and fictional, for the past centuries. Some notable wearers include Fred Astaire, Uncle Sam, magicians, Marlene Dietrich, the Monopoly guy, Slash, Willy Wonka, and hundreds of other notable people.

1. Small hat for women with no brim, or small turned-up brim.

2. French term for a chef's hat.

In the broad sense of the term, a visor is a surface that protects the eyes. The most common version of this is the headband style visor with a peak in the front of the cap for sun protection. However there are many other types of visors which help protect against different things. The peak of a cap is also referred to as the visor. Visors are often worn for outdoors sporting activities where the eyes require protection however they are also worn in professions where the eyes are under a lot of strain. A green plastic visor was worn by accountants, copy editors, and other similar professions to offer protection from early incandescent lights. This helped lessen the strain on the eyes and make it easier to work.

The western hat is the symbol of the North American cowboy and takes a heavy influence from Mexican culture. The modern day western style hat began to take shape as early as the 1800s with John B. Stetson creating his Iconic "Boss of the Plains" style hat in 1865. Western hats grew in popularity over the following decades, becoming a popular style for ranchers, rodeo participants, and many western singers. These hats have become one of the icons of the "old west" and for over a century have withstood the test of time.