Crowning Moments - 10 Iconic Women Who Changed History in Hats
Throughout history, the right hat has done more than complete an outfit—it’s made a statement. For some of the world’s most iconic women, headwear became an extension of their identity, a symbol of power, style, and personality. From avant-garde musicians to fashion-forward royalty, these women turned hats into history.
Let’s take a stroll through the decades—beginning in the modern era—to revisit the influential women whose hats became part of their lasting legacies.
Erykah Badu – The High Priestess of Headgear
When Erykah Badu enters a room, her hat arrives a few seconds before she does. Her towering, architectural headpieces—sometimes futuristic, sometimes deeply rooted in cultural motifs—have made her one of the most original and daring hat-wearers of our time. Badu doesn’t just wear hats; she commands them. Each one speaks to spiritual depth, Afrocentric pride, and creative freedom. She’s a modern muse of millinery, turning the hat into a sacred signature.
Stevie Nicks – Witchy Glam and Velvet Brims
No one does bohemian mystique quite like Stevie Nicks. With her signature top hat, wide-brimmed fedoras, cascading shawls, and dark velvets, she crafted an aesthetic that echoed both enchantment and edge. Her hats became stage companions—part spell, part shield. Today, Stevie’s iconic style continues to inspire a generation of modern boho fashionistas, proving that a great hat can cast a lasting spell.
Alicia Keys – The Modern Muse in Wide-Brimmed Fedoras
From her debut in the early 2000s, Alicia Keys has made hats—especially wide-brimmed fedoras—an essential part of her signature look. Whether on stage behind the piano or walking a red carpet, Keys often tops her ensembles with structured felt hats that echo both her soulful sound and bold individuality. Her style blends elegance with edge, often pairing menswear-inspired tailoring with feminine details. In recent years, as she’s embraced a more natural and minimal aesthetic, her hats have remained—a symbol of confidence and authenticity. Alicia’s refined yet expressive hat choices continue to influence a generation of fashion-forward music lovers and creatives alike.
Diane Keaton – The Power of the Open Crown Fedora
In 1977’s Annie Hall, Diane Keaton gave the world a new way to see femininity—with trousers, vests, neckties, and most memorably, a hat. While most remember the menswear, the real magic was in her headwear: an open crown fedora, worn with an effortless blend of tomboy edge and refined cool. The hat became a symbol of individuality—structured yet soft, bold yet casual. Keaton’s fedora helped redefine what it meant to be fashionable as a woman: not following trends, but writing your own rules. Her influence can still be seen today, from high fashion runways to street style blogs. That hat wasn’t just part of her costume—it launched a fashion revolution.
Brigitte Bardot – The Queen of Riviera Chic
In the 1960s, no one embodied effortless summer glamour quite like Brigitte Bardot. Often photographed lounging in Saint-Tropez, Bardot made the floppy straw sun hat a staple of French-girl fashion. Her oversized brims, often paired with tousled hair and cat-eye sunglasses, were the perfect blend of sexy and sweet. Bardot’s beachy bohemian style continues to inspire vacation wardrobes, proving that the right hat can make sun protection look impossibly chic.
Audrey Hepburn – The Breakfast at Tiffany’s Brim
Few moments in fashion history are as instantly recognizable as Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The oversized black hat with its sweeping brim and delicate satin band framed Hepburn’s face like a portrait. Sophisticated and mysterious, it completed her iconic little black dress look and made Holly Golightly unforgettable. To this day, the wide-brimmed hat remains a go-to for channeling effortless elegance.
Jackie Kennedy – The Pink Pillbox
Jacqueline Kennedy’s pillbox hat wasn’t just fashionable—it was unforgettable. Most famously worn with her pink Chanel suit on November 22, 1963, the pillbox became a powerful symbol of poise in tragedy. Though the event was somber, her refusal to remove the blood-stained outfit was seen as an act of quiet courage. The pillbox became synonymous with Jackie’s style: structured, soft-spoken, and profoundly influential. Her look sparked trends throughout the 1960s and remains a staple in vintage fashion inspiration.
Queen Elizabeth II – Regal Color and Structure
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II wore more hats than perhaps any woman in history—both figuratively and literally. Always coordinated, always precise, her brimmed hats became a signature of her public presence. Designed to ensure visibility in a crowd, her choices were as strategic as they were stylish. One standout moment? Her bright yellow floral-trimmed hat at the 2011 Royal Wedding, which perfectly paired stateliness with springtime joy. The Queen’s hats were a celebration of both tradition and meticulous detail.
Josephine Baker – Showgirl Drama and Feathers
In 1920s Paris, Josephine Baker used hats as part of her dazzling stagecraft. From feathered showgirl pieces to dramatic, avant-garde toppers, her headwear enhanced her theatrical flair and unmatched charisma. But Baker wasn’t just about glamour—her hats also embodied her defiance of convention and her embrace of sensual power. She became a global icon not only for her performances but for her unapologetic self-expression. Her influence on fashion—and freedom—continues today.
Annie Oakley – The Original Cowgirl Crown
Decades before the term “icon” became fashionable, Annie Oakley was already living the title. Her cowgirl hat wasn’t just practical—it was pioneering. As one of America’s first female sharpshooters and entertainers, Oakley’s signature headwear became a symbol of grit, independence, and frontier flair. The style lives on through rodeo queens, country stars, and Western fashion enthusiasts who still tip their hats to Annie’s trailblazing spirit.
Wear Your Legacy
From a high crown to a dramatic brim, hats hold the power to define a look and make a moment. At Hats in the Belfry, we honor the legacy of these hat-wearing icons by offering timeless styles with a modern edge. Whether you’re drawn to Diane’s androgynous flair, Erykah’s cosmic expressions, or Audrey’s timeless polish, there’s a hat waiting to become your signature.
Explore our collections today—because the next hat icon could be you.
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