If you think you’ve been seeing bucket hats nearly everywhere . . . well, you’re right. Bucket hats are back (if they ever really went away) and are now a hot fashion item.

Here’s what one fashion watcher says about bucket hats today . . .

“No, you’re not having an early-2000s or mid-’90s – or even late-’80s – flashback moment: the bucket hat really is everywhere and on everyone right now.” From Megan 

Thee Stallion topping off her mini-golfing ‘fit to Kylie Jenner and Anastasia Karanikolaou stunting in their matching Prada hat and teeny bag sets to Selena Gomez-approved knitwear to designer Victor Glemaud designing a wide-brimmed fundraising effort for the Biden/Harris 2020 campaign.

Since bucket hats are so hot right now, let’s see what we can see about them.

History of Bucket Hats

First, a little bucket hat history . . .

The bucket hat, also known as a fishing hat, is believed to have been introduced around 1900. 

Originally made from wool felt or tweed cloth, bucket hats were originally worn primarily by Irish farmers and fishermen for protection from the elements, especially rain. The lanolin in the raw, unwashed wool made the hats naturally waterproof.

During the years between WWI and WWII the hats became known as Irish walking hats because they were adopted internationally as the hat of choice for country pursuits. 

They could be easily folded to fit into a coat pocket, could be easily cleaned with a damp sponge, and could be reshaped by means of steam from a kettle.

Then, during the 1960s, the bucket hat became a lady’s fashion item, along the lines of the pillbox, bakerboy, and doche styles. 

The bucket hat was adopted by rappers in the 1980s and remained popular in that scene into the ‘90s. More recently it has been a popular catwalk accessory after being seen on various celebrities including Rihanna.

Then, during the 1960s, the bucket hat became a lady’s fashion item, along the lines of the pillbox, bakerboy, and doche styles. 

The bucket hat was adopted by rappers in the 1980s and remained popular in that scene into the ‘90s. More recently it has been a popular catwalk accessory after being seen on various celebrities including Rihanna.

Interesting Facts About Bucket Hats

Now let’s look at a few very interesting facts about bucket hats . . .

A Great Rain Hat

As we mentioned, bucket hats were first worn by Irish fishermen and farmers primarily for protection from the elements.

They made great rain hats because the sloping brim funneled rain away from the neck, and unwashed wool in the original versions made them nearly waterproof.

Today, bucket hats serve the same water-repelling purpose owing to the use of various synthetic materials that make them waterproof. And that’s why they are still worn by fishermen and outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds.

A Popular Hip-Hop Culture Item

From the late 1970s on, the bucket hat has been adopted by, and so serves as an identifier for, the hip-hop counterculture.

The first rap recording artist to don a bucket hat was Big Hank of Sugar Hill Gang in 1979. After that, LL Cool J and Run-DMC solidified the bucket hat trend. And it remains a cultural and musical emblem right up to today.

A Hat Worn by Soldiers in Vietnam

Many of our American soldiers in Vietnam wore a version of the bucket hat. It was called a boonie hat and sported a brim with added stiffness. The US Army Green Berets started this bucket hat trend. 

The US Army began issuing the boonie hat version of the bucket hat in 1967, hats made of cotton and poplin and typically in olive drab or a tiger-stripe pattern.

Why Wear a Bucket Hat

While all that’s very interesting, why should you wear a bucket hat today? Here are a few of the most salient reasons . . .

The Cool Factor

”The silhouette of a bucket hat “ is a little more loose and limber. It’s not stiff, like if you were wearing a baseball cap, fedora, or a Panama hat.

Flexibility

Bucket hats also provide an amazing range of flexibility with their easygoing aesthetic and also because they come in a huge range of colors, prints, and textures. 

All this allows you to create your own individual fashion statement. Bucket hats run the gamut from what you’d see on Gilligan in Gilligan’s Island to those worn by LL Cool J.

Nostalgia

Bucket hats also afford a nostalgic look that goes back decades to icons of the past. 

Here are a few examples: Hunter S. Thompson’s gonzo journalism look of the ‘70s, the floppy, floral-accented hats worn by Mayim Bialik in the first half of the ‘90s, and the bucket hats worn by R&B singers in the late ‘80s and ‘90s. 

And then there’s the “relaxed bucket hat look sported by Mandy Moore, Jessica Simpson, and Britney Spears in the early 2000s.”

Why the Bucket Hat Is Back

But why is the bucket hat hot now? Is it because it never really went away or because it is simply making a strong come-back. It’s a little of both really.

According to those in the know in fashion, “There’s obviously the styling component, but there’s also the practicality . . .

After all, the bucket hat originates in turn-of-20th-century Ireland as purely functional gear for fishermen and farmers. The downward-sloping brim offers outdoorsy types protection from sun and the rain.

 In the 1940s, the American military issued the malleable, packable headwear, which evolved during the Vietnam War into the wider-brim boonie hat to offer even more  UV protection. 

 But the bucket hat also provides another type of safeguard, giving you an incognito kind of vibe.

Where to Get Quality Bucket Hats

The bucket hat, once a humble piece of headwear worn by farmers and fishermen, has now moved to catwalks and celebrity pages. It is, no doubt, both practical and fashionable.

If you want to get in on this hot new (but also old) hat trend, you’ll need some bucket hats. So why not go to the bucket hat source that offers both quality hats and great prices coupled with superior customer service.

Here at Bandana.com, we offer a wide selection of all kinds of headwear, including bucket hats, bandanas, and doo rags. You can get more information about us here.