Want to look like the characters from the Great Gatsby? You're not alone, we wouldn't mind either! To celebrate the movie's revival of classic 1920's style, we've put together a little something for you to mark the occasion.. Enjoy!
The Hats of Gatsby
With the recent release of Baz Luhrmann's "The Great Gatsby," everyone is buzzing about 1920's fashion! Here are some of the hats featured in the film, and a little history behind each Jazz Age design.
Homburg
The homburg is a style of fedora that was invented in the 1880s in Homburg, Germany. Brought to popularity by Edward VII, it became a common formal hat for gentlemen to wear around town. Made of felt with a curled bound brim and a center-dent crown, this hat is most popular in dark grey or black. n the 1920's at the height of its fame it would have cost about four dollars. Famous homburg fans include Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire), Winston Churchill, and President Dwight Eisenhower.
Newsboy Cap
The newsboy cap, also called the newsie, the 8/4, the Cabbie, and even The Gatsby, is a paneled cap, with a front peak and often a button crown. It can be made of any fabric but is most common in wool, linen or cotton. A common cap ever since the early 1800's, this cap has been worn by men and boys in all levels of society. It is still a popular look, especially among golfers and celebrities. In the 1920's it would cost one dollar. Some famous newsboy cap fans include Brad Pitt, Jon Hamm, George Clooney, Rhianna, and David Beckham.
Cloche
The cloche hat was invented by Caroline Reboux in 1908. A soft rounded hat that sits close to the head, usually made of felt, it was most popular in the 1920's with flappers - young fashionable women known for their wild style, heavy smoking and drinking, and denial of social norms of the era. Cloche hats were worn for any occasion - lace, ribbons, or brooches were added for more formal occasions. Hairstyles changed to match the hats: bobbed short styles flattered the popular hats' look. A 20's cloche would have cost two dollars. Cloche hats also sent signals in the 1920's: an arrow shaped ribbon meant a girl's heart belonged to someone, a firm knotted bow indicated a married woman, a large or loose bow meant the girl was single and looking!
Boater
A formal men's summer hat made of straw, also known as a Skimmer. These hats became popular in the late 1800's as a warm weather alternative to formal wool fedoras or derby hats, and were worn often by sailors. Women sometimes wore lighter straw versions of the Boater. The hats became part of the uniform for boys' schools (and in places like Australia and South Africa it is still common) as well as unofficial uniform hats for the FBI! Straw Hat Day became a tradition in many cities - a holiday when all the men would switch to their straw hats for summer. In Philadelphia, May 15th is still the official day to switch from wool to straw. A straw boater would cost about four dollars in the 1920's.
Headband
The headband has been worn in some form for centuries, but the flappers favored the look because it was simple and flattered their new short hair. Headbands were made of anything from ribbon to rhinestone. Daisy's headband in the Great Gatsby film is platinum and diamond with pearls and a detachable brooch. Made by Tiffany and Co, it costs $200,000!
Fascinators
The fascinator is a small headpiece either fixed on a headband or attached to a comb or clip. Versions of the fascinator have existed for centuries, but the term was only coined in the mid-20th century! Often featuring feathers, beads, or fabric flowers, these small head pieces are an elegant choice for ladies looking for a smaller style than a full hat. Veiled versions are often worn for weddings and funerals.
All images from The Great Gatsby © Warner Bros. Pictures, 2013
Based on the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, 1925
Infographic © DelMonico Hatter 2013
