Bowler Hats

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As soon as we entered Bolivia we noticed people wearing Bowler Hats. Never men, just women. They were as common as the ´aguayo´(sheets that women carry their goods/babies in on their backs). The hats would not always fit - often being too small, balancing precariously on the ladies heads. We observed Bowler hats throughout most of the country, only in Santa Cruz do the majority of ladies not wear them.

We were speaking to a Canadian gentlemen and he put forward what he believes is the reason for the hats. At the turn of the centrury (around the time Butch Cassidy and the Sundance kid were shot in Bolivia by the army) an English gentlemen opened a store here selling hats. Due to a mix up owing to his lack of Spanish numeracy skills, he ordered far too many Bowler Hats. Unable to return the excess stock he placed an ad in the press stating that all refined people wear this type of hat. To his surprise the wife of a local dignatory came into the shop enquiring about these marks of distinction. Too embarassed to say they were gentlemens´ attire, and probably desperate for the sale, he sold her a new Bowler Hat and the rest is history.

The ladies are still proud to wear their hats as they are always quite clean. We noticed that when it rains the women still wear them, often covering them with polythene bags to prevent them getting wet.

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Photos

hat1
Relaxing hat

hat2
hat and aguayo

hat3
Rain Hat (covered in plastic bag)