Welcome to Trilby Hat
The trilby hat was at first a hat worn by women, yes a womans trilby hat, during the late 19th century. Then George Du Mauriers book 'Trilby' (1894) and first staged as a play in 1895, making the trilby a mens trilby hat. The lead female character was called Trilby O ferrall. The had became synonymous with the name and play when the actress playing her came on with such a hat.
Later on from the 1920s onwards it became a staple item of the gentlemans wardrobe, as it is a smart way to complete an outfit, easy to store and clean and above all was light enough to be worn at all times, you will often see in old photos that the gentlemen of the 20s wore the hat constantly even if they have taken theyre coat and tie off, the Triby was ever present. At the races as a neat and snappy hat and also as a sporty addition for the active man. The Trilby was still very much a unisex hat that women wore with panache and again to give a delightful finishing touch to the fashions of the day.
The trilby is a hat originally made of rabbit fur, but is more likely now to made of felt,wool,straw or tweed. it is a soft hat with a fold in the top with a little pinch in the front from how its taken on and off. It has a medium size brim and lies across the forehead of the wearer, either just tippe slightly forward or worn on a jaunty angle.