Tricorn Trend

I have a bit of an obsession with three-cornered hats.

Despite this is definitely not the most unassuming kind of hat (even though the version I prefer is the most basic one with no decorations, feathers, veil or lace), I rarely had anybody laughing at me while walking down the street in a tricorn hat, though I must admit that passing passport control in a tricorn hat can be tricky as it usually triggers a few hilarious comments from the officers who may ask you where is your parrot, if you want to declare your gold chest or if you're aware that “pirates” aren't allowed on board a plane (yes, all very funny).

While pirate-inspired collections à la Vivienne Westwood or Jean Paul Gaultier and films such as The Pirates of the Caribbean saga revamped an interest in tricorns (by the way, Borsalino's A/W 2011-12 collection actually features a few tricorn hats…), tricorns were actually popular as military or civil attire in the 17th-18th century.

The purpose of this type of hat was mainly repairing the wearer from the rain: indeed the brim, pinned up on the sides of the head and at the back, produced a triangular shape that redirected rainwater away from the wearer's face.

The main reason why I like tricorn hats is not pirate-related, but it is connected to my passion for the Commedia dell'Arte (a form of improvisational theatre I particularly like for the way its characters were clearly outlined by their masks, costumes, walk and mannerism…); my love for Elsa Schiaparelli and her Spring/Summer 1939 collection inspired by masks (and by the Commedia dell'Arte) and my interest in some of the costumes designed by Pablo Picasso for the Ballets Russes' "Le Tricorne" (The Three-Cornered Hat) by Manuel de Falla.

I mainly wear my black felt tricorn in winter, but, while walking around Venice (here tricorns are more connected with the costume called "bauta" that consisted in a black cloak, a black tricorn hat and a white mask, but they are also linked with Casanova's attire…), I spotted in the windows of Stefano Nicolao's Atelier (where I originally bought my black tricorn) these straw three-cornered hats in bright summery colours.

Could this be a trend? Maybe. I guess Elsa Schiaparelli would have approved (I'm sure she would have gone for a shocking pink one…). As a further tricorn-related inspiration I'm embedding here de Falla's ebullient and witty suite N. 2 from the "Three-Corned Hat". Enjoy.