Top hat

The top hat was made by Max Peickert's hat factory, founded in 1895, whose headquarters were located at Königs Thor 9 Street (currently Plac Hołdu Pruskiego 9), opposite the Concert House. Hats were originally worn to protect the head from the weather, as well as a fashion accessory – over time they became an essential element of clothing, the epitome of elegance and social standing of the wearer. Both the ways of wearing and the forms of hats have changed over many centuries. Top hats are some of the most formal models of hats – tall, stiff, with a cylinder-shaped head and a small brim, usually made of satin, they started seeing use at the end of the 18th century. Their heyday came in the mid-19th century, as they gained popularity among men and women alike. Their decline in popularity as everyday headwear began at the beginning of the 20th century, with the popularity of bowler hats and other, less formal hat models. These days, they are worn only on special occasions and with exceptionally refined outfits.

Anna Lew-Machniak