By Lou Carver

There has never been a more sophisticated and dominating hat in fashion than the top hat.  When the first top hat was worn by the haberdasher John Hetherington in 1797, it caused a near riot.  It was not until 1850 that the hat really took off when Prince Albert starting wearing it in public and it became the fashion rage.  [CLICK for full article] 

[Image: Library of Congress LC-USZ62-118342]