According to The American Hatter, London haberdasher John Hetherington nearly caused a riot when he wore the first tophat into the Strand on Jan. 15, 1797:

An excited throng gathered about the owner and the crowd soon increased to such a dangerous extent that the authorities had to interfere. The next morning the daring haberdasher was brought before the Lord Mayor charged with “walking down a public highway wearing upon his head a tall structure having a shining lustre calculated to alarm the people.”

Witnesses testified that “women had fainted, that children had gone into hysterics and that one lad sustained a broken arm through the violence of the mob.” Hetherington asserted his right to dress as he chose, but the Lord Mayor fined him $5,000.

Futility Closet (via snowblooded)

a tall structure having a shining lustre calculated to alarm the people

(via scarfmouse)

women

had

fainted

(via batmanandsobbin)

ooooooh, Mister Hetherington!

(via sparkleboy)

Princess Beatrice only wishes her hair accruements could incite such reaction.

(via eldritche)

(via aeide-thea)

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  15. logicianmagician reblogged this from the-maddest-scientist and added:
    In the manner of a boss
  16. tripfeldthemystic reblogged this from the-maddest-scientist and added:
    This doesn’t happen anymore. People don’t riot over new clothing. WHY NOT
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  21. amberemerald reblogged this from miaman and added:
    Top hats need to come back into fashion.
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