In my last blog “Author’s Best Friend,” I wrote how a character’s hat could tell much about the persona of a fictional character. In Children of the Revolution, my third book in the Westward Sagas series, I wrote about London haberdasher, John Hetherington a real-life character who purchased beaver pelts from Peggy Mitchell. John Hetherington created the “Top Hat” in 1797. The hat, sometimes called the “stove top” became as much a part of men’s formal wear as a tuxedo and black tie. President John F. Kennedy reluctantly wore his top hat to his inaugural but did not wear it during the swearing in. He was the first President to not wear a hat during an outside swearing in ceremony.
Hats not only help make great characters, but descriptive phrases as well. Every adult reader understands when the protagonist says, “grab your hat.” He means let’s go! Hats off to the ladies, pass the hat or do a hat trick. I don’t want to sound like I’m talking through my hat or that I’m mad as a hatter. I’m just old hat. Don’t be tight as Dick’s hat band, buy a hat and put a feather in it.