A boater hat is a semi-formal summer hat for men that was popularized in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is typically made of stiff sennit straw and has a stiff flat crown and brim, often with a solid or striped grosgrain ribbon around the crown. The hat was derived from the canotier straw hat worn traditionally by gondoliers in the city of Venice, which had a ribbon that hangs freely off the back. Boaters were identified with boating or sailing, hence the name.
Boater hats are often associated with formal summer events and are equivalent in formality to the Homburg. They are correctly worn either in their original setting with a blazer or in the same situations as a Homburg, such as a smart lounge suit or with black tie. The hat has been worn by notable figures such as John Jacob Astor IV, Harold Lloyd, and Maurice Chevalier. Boater hats are also available for women.
