Editor's Corner

Hello, my friends. I knew some of you couldn’t deal with just two selections of hats. Last Friday, I was here editing a busy queue, but it was very quiet “out there.” A few folks who were in their offices kept me quite entertained that afternoon.

• Teresa B. reminded me of (Kentucky) derby hats, which can be quite elaborate.
• Lyrae (that’s pronounced like the pre-Euro Italian lira, not lie-ra, or ly-ray) sent me a few hats on her list of favorites, which I’ll discuss below.
• And a former employee (Craig D.) sent me a song from the past, a classic that made my Friday sing. It has as much drinking as the series Mad Men, but it’s a beauty: Ladies Who Lunch. You’ll find a mention of hats at about 1:10 here.

Cheers to the three of you for reminding me of the “Have Fun” part of the Jack Henry mantra! I’m using definitions from AI because the responses are more detailed than Merriam-Webster.

trilby

A trilby is a narrow‑brimmed hat with a pinched, teardrop‑shaped crown and a brim that angles down in the front and up in the back. It’s often described as a “stingy‑brim” style because the brim is typically shorter than that of a fedora.

touring cap

A touring cap is a type of flat cap—a close‑fitting, short‑brimmed hat—known for its sleek, streamlined shape and slightly curved, sewn‑down peak. It’s often associated with Irish and British heritage wear and is popular as both a casual and dress‑casual accessory.

• Slim, fitted body: More fitted than vintage or fuller newsboy caps, giving it a modern, low‑profile silhouette.
• Sewn‑down brim: The brim is usually stitched down, creating a clean, polished look and a subtle curve.
• Materials: Commonly made from tweed, wool, linen, or patchwork fabrics, often handcrafted in Ireland.

porkpie

The porkpie hat is characterized by a flat, circular crown often featuring a telescopic or dented crease around the top edge, and a short, narrow brim that typically curves upward. Traditionally, porkpie hats are made from felt, though straw versions exist for warmer weather, and common colors include black, gray, and brown.

The porkpie hat first appeared in Western fashion during the 1860s, initially as a women’s accessory with a small brim designed to sit toward the front of the head to accommodate elaborate hairstyles. Early versions were made from straw or velvet and featured a narrow brim curling toward the flat crown. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the style transitioned into men’s fashion, often larger and adorned with ribbons at the back.

[KC] The porkpie hat has a long history. It is often associated with the Depression, jazz musicians, and movie stars from the beginning of movies and on. In the TV show Breaking Bad, drug-maker Walter White wore a black porkpie hat when he identified as “Eisenberg,” his alter ego.

newsboy

The first flat caps were only worn by male members of the working class. It should come as no surprise that many of the style names for this cap are related to professions. The most infamous flat cap style — the newsboy cap — gets its name from the group it was most popular with: newsboys.

Newsboy caps tend to have excess fabric around the head (crown) and a small, short brim at the front. The extra fabric may hang over the bill, but you could also choose to flatten it at the sides of the crown.

[KC – If you watched
Peaky Blinders, you’re probably familiar with the newsboy cap, but how about that prickly Peaky Blinders haircut?]

And now for the derby hats that are dramatic works of art!

That is by no means all of the hats available in the world, but it’s a start. I hope you’ve learned a few new types!

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory | Knowledge Enablement

Pronouns: she/her | Call via Teams | jackhenry.com

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