Cocked hat
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Image:Polytechniciens DSC09009.JPG
The Cocked hat is a style of formal headgear, or hat, worn by certain civilian, military and naval officials from the mid-19th Century until the beginning of World War II, and occasionally thereafter.
Evolved from the bicorne, the black-coloured cocked hat is triangular in shape, with the brim at the left and right sides turned up and pinned together; the front and back ends are pointed; and there is usually a cockade in the national colours at the right side. It is often trimmed with gold or silver bullion lace and tassels. Naval officers wore this hat without further decorations, but those worn by military and civilian officials may be lavishly decorated with coloured ostrich or swan feathers.
Navies around the world, once almost universal in using cocked hats, ceased wearing them at the beginning of World War II; after the war, however, some military, diplomatic and colonial officials resumed wearing the cocked hat at very formal occasions, and occasionally still do so today.
