How Accessories Shape Characters: Iconic Hats from Movies and TV Shows
Accessories have always played an important part in the portrayal of a character, representing their adventurous spirit, high social class, or religious affiliation. Not only that, but sometimes hats themselves were a part of the movie that helped guide the main character throughout their journey. Some of these accessories even became fashion staples that we wear to this day. In this article, we will discuss a few hats that had the biggest impact on the silver screen and are still highly regarded by both cinema lovers and fashionistas.
Mad Hatter’s Top Hat, Alice in Wonderland (2010)
It is often that a character cannot be imagined without their iconic hat, and the top hat in Johnny Depp’s portrayal of the Mad Hatter is a perfect example of this. In Tim Burton’s adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice in Wonderland, the hat is one of the most important parts of Mad Hatter’s costume, encapsulating the madness and creativity of both Wonderland and the character himself. The classic top hat was very popular at the time Carroll wrote the book, and the author used it to represent the character’s chaotic personality by adding vibrant colors and eccentric patterns. To this day, the kaleidoscopic charm of this top hat makes it one of the most recognizable in cinematic history.
Thomas Shelby’s Newsboy Cap, Peaky Blinders (2013-2022)
The British series Peaky Blinders first aired in 2013 and to say that it gained immense popularity would be an understatement. Thomas Shelby, the enigmatic and ambitious leader of the Shelby crime family, was portrayed by Cillian Murphy and he quickly became inseparable with his iconic newsboy cap. The actions of the series take place in the 1920s, back when the newsboy cap was a part of working men’s uniform, and thus it represented a connection of the mighty Thomas Shelby with the working class. Additionally, thanks to this series, men all over the world started integrating such a hat into their daily outfits, making them appear more sophisticated and polished. If you too want to add a bit of Shelby’s charm into your own looks, check out Gaelsong’s collection of men’s Irish hats where you can find newsboy caps in all colors and designs.
Leon’s Beanie, Léon: The Professional (1994)
In Luc Besson’s Léon: The Professional, Leon’s beanie is a simple yet significant element of his distinctive look. It is worn by Jean Reno who plays a professional hitman, and the dark, charcoal color of the knit hat is perfectly blending with the muted color palette of both the main character’s attire and the overall ambience of the movie. Moreover, the beanie is always pulled low over his forehead, thus becoming a sort of shield and a symbol of anonymity as Reno’s character’s whole life is shrouded in secrecy. Later in the movie, Matilda, Leon’s twelve years old ally, is seen wearing a similar headpiece; however, she has a deep red crochet hat which represents both her camaraderie with the hitman and the youth and innocence that she was stripped of because of the violent world.
