We're honored that the mastermind behind Barbary Ghost western wear of San Franciso calls us "the unparalleled Prof. Oddfellow, my favorite living author!"  And he even surprised us with a singular hat crafted with lapis lazuli, wormwood, lavender, dried roses, playing cards, and a silver howling coyote.  Thank you, Barbary Ghost, for two Retroactive Lifetime Goals in one!

Chimney hats.  From Le Charivari, 1890.

From Apponequet's 1970 yearbook.

Before you look at the caption, can you guess his profession?  From Harper's, 1879.

From Newton Junior's 1968 yearbook.

Wait -- if no beret is needed for dabbling and enjoyment, then forget it.  Everything is more fun in a hat, and anyone who doesn't already know that has been missing out big time.  From Together, 1959.

From Salem's 1918 yearbook.

From Le Journal Amusant, 1877.

At first glance, we thought it was a giant cupcake head.  From Wingate's 1947 yearbook.

This is a lie: "You can put a silk bonnet on an alligator but it will still be an alligator."  Untrue.  Consider the extraordinarily decorated desserts in Japan--they aren't ordinary confections with bonnets.  Leave it to a scientifically-minded magazine to spread ugly propaganda.  From Illustrated World, 1922.

From Le Chariviari, 1884.

Reblog if you wear a lampshade on your skull head, lest you blind others with your dazzling light.  From der Guckkasten, 1912.