Fandom Fashion: The Most Iconic Hats in Pop Culture

A little accessorizing goes a long way. That’s true of real life and in pop culture. Across all your favorite fandoms, after all, there are countless characters with a signature style, look, or outfit element. Often that ends up being a hat.

So to celebrate International Hat Day, we’re looking at some of the most iconic hats across media below!

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Indiana Jones’ Fedora

When we picture Indiana Jones, we always immediately think of the whip and the fedora! This hard-worn accessory is fashionable for an archeologist and functional for an adventurer. The brown leather matches his monochrome, earthy color palette. And this hat has gone everywhere with Indy, from the Temple of Doom to the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and beyond.

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Hogwarts Sorting Hat

The Hogwarts Sorting Hat from Harry Potter looks like your average wizard hat. It is tall, brown, and a little worn. But look beyond the tears and holes, and you’ll see all the stitching resembles a mouth and eyes. That’s because the Sorting Hat has a mind of its own. Smart and a bit sassy, the Sorting Hat sorts first year Hogwarts students into the four houses: Slytherin, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, or Hufflepuff. In times of need, the Sorting Hat has also produced magical artifacts hidden inside of it, such as the Sword of Godric Gryffindor.

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Ash Ketchum’s Snapback

Ash Ketchum’s gotta catch ’em all … and he’s gotta look good doing it. The most famous Pokémon Trainer is always seen in his red, white, and green snapback. We can’t imagine him without it, or without Pikachu hitching a ride on his shoulder!

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Raiden’s Harvester Hat

Mortal Kombat’s Raiden is the eternal God of Thunder. Because he is a storm/weather-related deity, he has an instantly recognizable costume feature. The harvester hat, indicative of his status and station in mythology, goes with Raiden no matter what else is changed about him in the video game series.

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Monkey D. Luffy’s Straw Hat

Of course we have to include the Straw Hat pirate crew captain! The hat is even in his group’s name. Monkey D. Luffy from One Piece is famous for his small, circular straw hat. Given to him by Shanks, the hat has seen better days — and been mended quite a few times — but it’s a constant on Luffy’s ship. When other crew members need some cheering up or encouraging, he even lends it out like a good luck charm.

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Lady Dimitrescu’s Floppy Hat

Who knew a hat could be so sinister? Lady Alcina Dimitrescu from Resident Evil already casts an imposing shadow. Add her massive floppy hat, and you’re immediately suspended in immense, seemingly infinite, darkness. Maybe if you stay and ask her for a closet tour or a fashion makeover, she won’t eat you right away?

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Louise Belcher’s Bunny Beanie

Louise Belcher is already an iconic character in Bob’s Burgers. She’s funny, intelligent, and totally offbeat. Then you look at her costume, especially the pink bunny-ear beanie, and you’re immediately sold — this is one of the best characters in adult animation!

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Rick Grimes’ Sheriff Hat

Sheriff Rick Grimes excited comics and television audiences with his incredible courage and charisma. In the early days of The Walking Dead series, as well as in the show, he sports his sheriff uniform because he can’t let go of the way life was before the apocalypse. That hat becomes a symbol for bravery and doing the right thing, and is passed on to his son, Carl Grimes, in times of utter turmoil.

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Gandalf’s Grey Wizard Hat

Once more in fantasy we see the typical wizard hat. But there’s nothing typical about the way Gandalf the Grey wears this awesome accessory. Matching it with his wizard robes, Middle-earth’s favorite sorcerer totally owns the color grey and the grizzled look in The Lord of the Rings. But don’t let his comfy appearance and cheerful demeanor fool you — he’s incredibly powerful, and the hat only adds to those epic vibes when he’s using magic.

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Blondie’s Cowboy Hat

What’s a Western protagonist without his hat? Blondie, or The Man With No Name, features Clint Eastwood in yet another unforgettable role. The antihero displays a scowl under that simple yet sturdy brown rim. It makes him mysterious yet also instantly recognizable throughout the beloved Dollars Trilogy.

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What are your favorite pop culture hats? Share your fandom fashion at side.show/geekgroup or in the Sideshow Social Network, and don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!