Poetic Pedigree

The Vintage Hat Series: 50s or early 60s silk- or rayon- velvet tam; Gladys & Belle, New YorkLikely every style of hat has an interesting history, but perhaps the origin of the tam is one of the most lyrical – literally.

The Tam o’ Shanter was a Scottish bonnet originally worn by men. It was named after Tam o’ Shanter, a character in Robert Burns’ 1791 gothic poem of the same name. 

Reminiscent of a beret, the tam is a floppy hat with a pompom in the centre. Its upstanding crown is sometimes up to twice the diameter of the head. The original men’s woollen hat was made only in blue due to the lack of chemical dyes, but today the masculine version comes in tartan and can be worn casually with Highland dress. 

Who knows how quick women were to notice the cuteness of this headwear, but they appropriated the Tam o’ Shanter for themselves and shortened its name to ‘tam’ or ‘tammy’. Taking it from traditional uniform into the realm of fashion, women didn’t stop at woollen plaid.

Anything with a pompom gets my vote, although my deliciously golden velvet tam has a black silk velvet button instead.