What's in a Name, Bowler

English nobleman Edward Coke went to a London-based hat-making company, requesting a hat that was better suited for the gamekeepers who worked on his family estate, because top hats were often knocked off by tree branches when they were on horseback. In response, the company's Thomas and William Bowler came up with the sturdy and stout piece of headgear that we know as the Bowler hat.

Incidentally, the fedora hat originated in 1891 after the stage play Fedora. Princess Fedora, the cross dressing heroine of the play, wore a center creased and soft, wide brimmed hat and this is how the fedora hat came to be. Also, the trilby hat name also comes from a play, an adaptation of George du Maurier's 1894 novel Trilby, performed in London, a hat of this style was worn and so the trilby hat was born.

More Items Named After Real People

The Bowler hat (also Derby hat) was created by Thomas and William Bowler. This was so the high top hats of the Earl of Derby’s gamekeepers would not be hit by branches while on horseback. This was also said to be a compromise between social classes’ top hat and flat cap. Incidentally, Dick Van Dyke inherited Stan Laurel’s bowler hat in 1965.

The term ‘Gerrymandering’ was derived from Gerry Elbridge, the governor of Massachusetts and salamander from an outline of a newly-defined district map. The outlined shape of a dragon in the form of a map pertains to a cartoon in the Boston Gazette in 1812. This awkward location that creates unusual shapes is suitable for voters in certain districts for political advancement.

Adolphe Sax invented the saxophone in 1840; unfortunately, he was unsuccessful with the instrument. Luckily, a century later, the sax became popular with jazz musicians.
Jean Nicot de Villemain, a French ambassador who learned about tobacco on his trip Portugal. When he went home, he brought snuff, leaves, and seed with him and presented it to the royal court of France in the 1560s. The plant became a hit and so Jean was commemorated by having the plant named after him - nicotine. Only in succeeding centuries did nicotine come to mean chemical inside the tobacco plant.

Bloomers were named after Amelia Bloomer, a women’s rights supporter. She did not make the garments, but her efforts embodied her appearance of women.

Cowboy Hats

The cowboy is one of the most iconic images in American history, but that doesn't mean our understanding of it isn't flawed. The iconic Stetson might be what every cowboy wears in Westerns, but it wasn't what they actually wore in real life until the very end of the Wild West. The Stetson wasn't even around until 1865 and in fact, it became really popular at the end of the 19th century. Up until then, the derby, also known as the bowler hat was most popular. The sombrero was also quite popular, but a gentleman might have preferred a top hat.

Bowlers Coming Back

The once iconic Bowler hat is set to make a fashion a comeback, according to tailors who say they are being inundated with requests for them.

Worn by Laurel and Hardy, Charlie Chaplin and the headwear of choice for civil servants and bankers the bowler dropped out of fashion in the 1960s.

Tailors Austin Reed says it has so many customer inquiries about the headgear it will soon stock it for the first time in 12 years.

Some American celebrities have recently been pictured wearing one, which is thought to have sparked an interest in the hats which date back to 1849. Some of my favorites pictured, Laurel and Hardy, and John Steed wore them. Of course could not add Steed without adding Emma Peel.