Analysis / Hat Shop

Headwear Stereotypes And Shorthands

Hats, helmets, masks and other headwear are often used as a shorthand to nationality, ethnicity, profession, line of work, socioeconomic status, class, personality, species, age, gender, religion, etc. The Coconut Effect and Outdated Outfit applies to some of these, especially if they are still used as shorthands in (non period piece) fiction after their use in the real world fizzled out.

Not to be confused with Planet of Hats. Overlaps with Stock Costume Traits.

General Stereotypes

Nationality and Ethnicity

• Cowboy Hat: an American (cowboy or not); least likely to be from the North, Northeast, or even coastal Northwest
• Ten Gallon Hat: Hollywood Cowboy or wealthy Texan.
• Black Beret: a French person, especially a Frenchman
• Green Top Hat: a Irish person. Often, a clover is stuck in the hat.
• Conical Straw Hat: a Chinese person. Examples go under All Asians Wear Conical Straw Hats.
• Feather or Feathered Headband: a Native American person.
• Feathered Headdress: Chief of an indigenous tribe.
• Turban: Arab, Sikh, or Muslim man.
• Derby or Bowler Hat: British, Irish, and American working class in the 19th century.
• Top Hat: Stuffy British aristocrat.
• Sombrero: a Mexican person.
• Tam-O-Shanter: Traditional headwear for Scotsmen, especially if he's wearing a kilt and playing bagpipes.
• Slouch Hat: Australian.

Class and Social Standing

• Crown: royalty or pageant queen
• Horned Crown: royalty or a warlord. Examples go under Crown of Horns.
• Tiara: royalty
• Top Hat:
• Tattered Top Hat:
• Dunce Cap: the kid who did poorly or badly in class. Rarely used in the 21st century.

Characterization and Personality

• Bandana: a badass or a tough guy
• Fedora: A pulp adventurer or action hero. Pulp adventurers and action heroes go under Fedora of Asskicking. Modern usage is usually for Straw Fan types and Insufferable Genius neckbeards.
• Marshal's Hat (especially one with elaborate plumage): worn by cuckoos with a Napoleon complex.
• Tinfoil Hat: a conspiracy theorist. They wear these so aliens won't read their mind.

Religion

• Yarmulke: Skullcap for Jewish men.
• Hijab: Standard headwear for Muslim women.
• Niqab:
• Burka: Face covering headwear for Muslim women.

Age and Youth

• Baseball cap: a kid or a teen, especially a male or Tomboy one.
• Propeller cap: a kid

Aquatic

• Goggles: a swimmer or a snorkler
• Snorkel: a snorkler
• Sun hat: a woman at the beach

Profession and Line of Work

• Black Beret: An artist or a painter. Also, a movie director. Examples go under Artsy Beret.
• Trucker Cap:
• Fedora: a detective
• Deerstalker Cap: a detective
• Headphones: A musician, most likely a DJ.
• Police Hat/Cap: A police worker

Military and Political

• Commissar Cap: Military leaders and dictators. Examples go under Commissar Cap.

Sports

• Baseball cap: a baseball player

Criminals and Outlaws

• Bandana: an outlaw, a biker, a pirate, a bandit, a thief. Examples Go under Badass Bandana.
• Fedora: A gangster or a mobster.

Subcultures

Sci-Fi Professions And Beings

Fantasy Professions And Beings

• Green Top Hat: a leprechaun. Often, a clover is stuck in the hat.
• Tall Conical Hat: a gnome. When decorated with runes or astrologic symbols, a wizard such as Merlin.
• Phrygian Cap:

Time Period

Specific Examples:

Anime and Manga

• Digimon: Typically the member of the Digidestined who wears the goggles is also the that incarnation of the team's leader. The exception for this was Digimon Data Squad which tried to break from some of the older series' traditions with mixed results.

Live Action TV

• The Ten Gallon Hat Texas oil baron was Immortalized by Larry Hagman's portrayal of J R Ewing in Dallas.