Boater Hats: Classic Summer Straw Hats with British Heritage
A BoaterĀ (also basher, skimmer, katie, orĀ Sennit Hat) is a kind of hat associated with sailing and boating.
It is normally made of Sennit straw and has a stiff flat crown and brim, typically with a ribbon around the crown, which is often in colours representing a school, rowing crew or similar institution. Boaters were popular as summer headgear in the late 19th century and early 20th century, and were supposedly worn by FBI agents as a sort of unofficial uniform.
Known as the headgear at Harrow School, they are more commonly seen except at sailing or rowing events, period theatrical and musical performances (e.g. barbershop).
Being made of straw, the boater was and is generally regarded as a warm-weather hat. In the heyday of hat wearing, "Straw Hat Day", was the day when men switched from wearing their winter hats to their summer hats, and was seen as a sign of the beginning of summer.
The boater is a fairly formal hat, equivalent in formality to theĀ Homburg, and is correctly worn either in its original setting with a blazer, or as a city hat for summer.
The Boater is making a comeback with the fashion conscious of London, and many are being worn around town more casually, or with summer weight suits.
