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Trilby

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This article is about the style of hat. For Trilby (disambiguation), see Trilby (disambiguation).
Isaac Rosenberg in a trilby hat. Self-portrait, 1914

A trilby hat (or simply trilby, originally Trilby hat) is a soft felt men's hat with a narrow brim and a deeply indented crown. Traditionally it was made from rabbit hair felt, but now it is sometimes made from other materials, such as tweed, or wool.

Trilbies are softer than Homburgs, and have a flexible brim instead of a curved one. They are similar to fedoras, but with a narrower brim. The hat's name derives from a play based on George du Maurier's 1894 novel Trilby. A hat of this style was worn on stage during the play's first London production. The trilby has been a symbol of chic elegance and class, and has been associated with jazz, ska and soul musicians. It has been popular among the rude boy, mod, skinhead and 2 Tone subcultures. In the UK, trilbies have also become popular within the Indie and Emo fashions.

British journalist William Norman Ewer had the nickname Trilby because he was known to wear the hat. The trilby was also often worn by Inspector Clouseau, the character portrayed by Peter Sellers in the Pink Panther film series. According to Sellers, he already owned a trenchcoat when he created the character, and he bought Clouseau's trilby from a shop in London, England because he thought the hat just naturally completed the outfit. The 1950s radio program The Goon Show made frequent references to the hat, such as a description of Eccles in which he is seen wearing a "metal trilby."

Notable trilby wearers


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