Billycock

What is a Billycock hat? The Billycock hat is a typical English headwear of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, known for its British charm and popular shape. Its rounded crown with a small upturned brim often earns it the nickname "melon" due to its melon-like form. Typically crafted from black wool or rabbit fur felt, the hat is now available in various colours, with or without a grosgrain band, often adorned with a feather for men and a bow for women. Models made from straw or bast are also available for hot summer days.

The origin of this traditional headwear dates back to 1849, when an English landowner named Coke commissioned a hatter for its production. Intended for his gamekeepers, the hat needed to be lower and sturdier than the conventional top hat to prevent it from being knocked off by branches while riding. After the initial design, hatters Thomas and William Bowler produced a model that quickly gained popularity, leading to the hat's alternative name, "Bowler."

Initially worn by cowboys or railroad workers, the Billycock hat is now also popular among women as a fashionable accessory. However, it remains part of the uniform for Viennese fiacre drivers. Over the years, the hat has acquired many other names. In German, it is also called "Eiersieder," "Hartmann," "Glocke," or "Koks," while in the USA, it is known as the "Derby," derived from the 17th Earl of Derby, who always wore a grey bowler hat at horse races.