A pillbox hat is a small hat with a flat crown, straight, upright sides, and no hat brim. It is named after the small cylindrical or hexagonal cases that were used for storing or carrying a small number of pills.[ "Pillbox Hats" on The Fashion Encyclopedia website]
History and description
Military headgear
Historically, the pillbox hat began as a form of military
headgear. During the late
Roman Empire, the
pileus pannonicus or "Pannonian cap", a type of headgear similar to the modern pillbox, was worn by Roman soldiers. A similar hat was popular with the
Flemish people in the
Middle Ages. In the 19th century pillboxes were worn by the units of the
British Army and its overseas possessions as well as by the
Boys Brigade. In some countries, especially those of the Commonwealth of Nations, a pillbox-like
forage cap, often with a chin strap, can still be seen on ceremonial occasions. The Royal Military College of Canada
dress uniform includes such a hat, and similar caps were standard issue for the
Victorian era British Army. Another cap called a
Balmoral bonnet is a modern version of the traditional headdress worn by members of virtually all
Gurkha regiments.
[Wilson History & Research Center, 10th Princess Mary's Own Gurkha Rifles Pillbox Cap . Retrieved 2010-08-18.]
Fashion headgear
The modern woman's pillbox hat was created by
milliners in the 1930s, and gained popularity due to its elegant simplicity. Pillbox hats were made out of
wool,
velvet,
organdy,
mink fur,
lynx or
fox fur fur, and
Animal print, among many other materials. They were generally designed in solid colors and were unaccessorized, but could include a
veil.
Jacqueline Kennedy, First Lady of the United States from 1961 to 1963, was well known for her "signature pillbox hats", designed for her by Halston, and was wearing a pink one to match her outfit on the day of her husband United States President John F. Kennedy's assassination in Dallas, Texas.[Spurlin, William J. 'I'd Rather Be the Princess Than the Queen' in Kear, Adrian and Steinberg, Deborah Lynn (eds.) Mourning Diana: Nation, Culture and the Performance of Grief. London: Routledge, 1999. p.158] Actress Natalie Portman wore a pillbox hat to play Kennedy in the 2016 biographical drama Jackie.
In popular culture
Pillbox hats are a satirical subject of the song "Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat" by
Bob Dylan which first appeared on his 1966 album
Blonde on Blonde. In 2013 hip-hop group
Death Grips released a song entitled "You Might Think He Loves You for Your Money But I Know What He Really Loves You for It’s Your Brand New Leopard Skin Pillbox Hat".
Gallery
File:Memorial Stained Glass window, Class of 1934, Royal Military College of Canada crop.jpg|Military pillbox on stained glass window in the Royal Military College of Canada
File:DorisDay-midnightlace.jpg|Doris Day in a pillbox hat
File:Greenwich Heritage Centre, Woolwich - RA & RMA exhibition 35.jpg|Pillbox worn by cadets at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich.
File:Pillboxhat.jpg|Pillbox owned by Jackie Kennedy in the Truman Museum
File:Montenegrin caps of Queen Milena and King Nikola.jpg|Royal pillboxes of Queen Milena and King Nikola of Montenegro
See also
Notes
External links
