Tricorne
A triangular hat popular in 18th-century Europe and military dress.
The tricorne, or tricorn, is a triangular hat that became popular in Europe during the 18th century and declined by the early 1800s. It was worn by aristocrats, common civilians, and military personnel, and remains in ceremonial use in several countries today.
- type
- Hat style
- period
- 18th century to early 1800s
- origin
- Europe (evolved from Spanish Cavalier hat)
- key_feature
- Three sides of brim cocked into a triangle
- materials
- Beaver-hair felt (expensive) or wool felt (cheaper)
- notable_wearers
- George Washington, James Monroe, King Louis XIV
Lore & Background
The tricorne evolved from the broad-brim round Cavalier hat used by Spanish soldiers in Flanders during the 17th century. By binding the brims, a triangular shape was obtained, favored by soldiers because it allowed muskets to be shouldered without hitting the brim. By the end of the 17th century, it was popular in both civilian and military contexts.
Reader's Guide
The tricorne's significance lies in its widespread adoption across social classes and its role in 18th-century fashion and military uniform. It allowed gentlemen to display their wigs and social status, and its folded brim made it easy to tuck under an arm indoors. The hat varied from simple to extravagant, with gold or silver lace and feathers, and military versions often bore a cockade. It declined at the end of the 18th century, evolving into the bicorne for officers and being replaced by the shako for enlisted soldiers, while the top hat overtook it in civilian fashion. Today, the tricorne survives in ceremonial dress, such as for the Chelsea Pensioners, the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, the Spanish Guardia Civil, and various parliamentary and judicial officials. It is also associated with the American Revolution and used in re-enactments and sports culture.
Did You Know?
- The word 'tricorne' was not widely used until the mid-19th century; in the 18th century, such hats were called 'cocked hats'.
- James Monroe earned the nickname 'The Last Cocked Hat' because he wore this style.
- The tricorne could be worn with one point facing forward, or soldiers sometimes wore it pointed left to clear a rifle or musket on the right shoulder.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Tricorne?
Tricorne is a triangular hat style that defined European headwear throughout the 1700s, worn by nobility, ordinary citizens, and soldiers alike. It is essentially the signature silhouette of 18th-century fashion across the continent.
What are Tricorne's key features and materials?
The hat's three brim edges are folded upward to create a distinctive triangular shape, which gives the style its name. It was typically made from beaver-hair felt for wealthier wearers or from wool felt as a more affordable alternative.
Where did Tricorne originate?
The style evolved out of the earlier Spanish Cavalier hat, gradually taking on its recognizable three-cornered form as it spread through European fashion. Once established, it became the standard headwear choice across aristocratic, civilian, and military circles.
How does Tricorne's story end?
The hat fell out of everyday fashion by the early 1800s as newer styles replaced it. However, it survives today in ceremonial dress in several nations, keeping its legacy alive in formal and military contexts.
Why is Tricorne important in clothing history?
It served as the universal headwear for an entire century, worn by iconic figures like George Washington, James Monroe, and King Louis XIV. Its adoption across every social class makes it one of the most recognizable hat silhouettes in Western history.
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