Hat

The Quintessential Aristocrat
Author Martin R. Thomas
Series Quintessential Series
Publisher Mongoose Publishing
Publish date 2004

Hat: While the lower classes wear simple hats of common design and materials, the hats of the aristocracy can become quite ostentatious. Like sashes and baldrics, the hat can be used to indicate office, military rank, and political or religious affiliations. Extravagant and eccentric shapes are often used to indicate the wealth of the wearer. Extremes of height and of multiple folds of fabric hanging down past the shoulder are common, as are displays of plumage and rare furs. In some cultures, aristocratic women wear elaborate, towering headdresses incorporating objects such as baskets, cornucopias, and other items.