Since its invention in 1849 in London, many famous people have been sporting bowler hats. You may recall the likes of Winston Churchill, Charlie Chaplin, Laurel & Hardy and even Mr.Potato head from Toy Story 2 wearing these types of hats.
While you will see women in Peru wearing bowler hats, it’s really in Bolivia that the women have stood out on their own when it comes to the tradition of wearing bowler hats.
Where did this tradition start?
We recently spent some time in La Paz and it was one of the most amazing and most interesting cities we’ve ever been to. It was also super cheap in terms of accommodation and eating out.
We stayed in an Airbnb for 4 nights in total and we got great value for money in comparison to staying in a hotel (you can get a further €35 your next booking by clicking here). We ate some really good food too and found La Paz to be excellent value for money when it came to picking up gifts for those at home.
Anyway…back to the bowler hats…
While we were on a city tour in La Paz, our tour guide informed us of the reason why these hats are so popular.
The story goes as follows:
Back in Manchester, shortly after the bowler hats were invented, two brothers were manufacturing a line of bowler hats. Their plan was to sell them to the British railway workers who were working in Bolivia at the time.
So, instead of throwing them out they decided to create a “fictional” story to tell the Bolivian Cholitas. This story was that all the fashionable women in Europe were going around wearing these bowler hats and it was the new fashion trend!
There’s also a myth that those who wore the hats did not have any fertility problems!
The bowler hats have been making a huge comeback in recent years in Bolivia and the locals embrace them as part of their traditional clothing. Nowadays, the bowler hat is part of Bolivian national pride.
As you can see in the photos, these hats don’t actually fit the women’s heads (just like it didn’t fit the heads of the men back when they first came on the scene).
The position of the hats
We also found out that the hats are worn on different parts of the head by the women in order to signify their marital status!
Wearing the hat in the middle of the head means that the women is married.
The Cholita
It should be mentioned that the term “Cholita” was once used as a derogatory phrase for indigenous heritage girls. However, over the years the meaning has developed more positive assumptions.
Despite the obvious influence of western fashion trends in Bolivia, these Cholitas have maintained their traditional dress sense.
Cholita fashion was once upon a time viewed as a poor country woman’s attire. However, Cholitas are enjoying cultural pride and wear their traditional outfits with both dignity and confidence these days.
Cholita outfits
Due to the fact that Bolivia is so culturally diverse, there’s no typical Bolivian clothing. The choice of clothes differs according to the region, income levels, climate and of course – personal choice.
- El Sombrero – The Bowler Hat
We’ve are talked about this earlier.
- La Pollera
This is a type of pleated skirt which gives the baggy look that you can see in the photos. It achieves this by using up to 8 meters of cloth!
The skirt goes all the way down to the ankles, which are considered to be the most attractive part of a woman by the majority of Bolivans!
- Las Enaguas
Underneath the skirt is a colourful petticoat, which helps puff up the skirt.
- La Blusa
A blouse that can be worn with either long or short sleeves depending on the climate.
5. La Manta
A thick shawl is worn around the shoulders of the women. The material is either llama or alpaca wool. The colour is monotone and is pinned at the front using a long type of safety pin.
- Los Calzados
Flat shoes with a rounded toe is what’s usually worn on the feet.
- Joyas
Earnings and brooches are used by Cholitas to accessorise their outfits. Funnily enough, during competitions or parades, the wealthy Cholitas will often hire security guards to walk with them to protect their expensive jewellery.
That’s another post in itself – about the wealthy class of Bolivian women.
We spent a few weeks in Bolivia in 2014, visiting places like the Salt Flats of Uyuni, Potosi – one of the worlds highest cities and La Paz. Overall, we can honestly say that Bolivia was our favourite country that we visited in South America.
Have any of you guys ever heard of this story about the reason why the bowler hats are worn in Bolivia? If so, please share what you’ve heard in the comments below. We’re very interested to hear different variations on this tradition.
I loved this post!!! Great information. I’d actually wondered about the hats. Bolivia is on my list of places to get to.
Hey Janice, how are you keeping?
Yeah, the hat story is a cool one. When you go there you’ll see them literally everywhere. So cool.
Great country – apart from the WiFi 😉
Just came back from a 3-week trip to Bolivia. Love the atmosphere over there. Everyday feels like an adventure. Very informative about the bowler hats.
Excelente reportaje
Thanks for this. I was interested in the explanation of the hats. We landed at La Paz for q two week trip, with Explore Worldwide mostly in Peru. It took a day or two to acclimatise to the altitude. A few days later we spent.a night on the Island of the Sun in the Bolivian part of Lake Titicaca There were no mod con but that night our Explore leader arranged for us to visit the museum. It was an interesting experience to be shown round by the curator by torch light but he only spoke Spanish, the language also used for the hand-written labels of the exhibits.i Memorable but not informative. Our leader had tremendous enthusiasm for the Incas which made it a very special trip.
I’m just sorry not to be fit enough to travel any more.
keep up the good work,
Edward (if you put this on your site please first name only)
Great post, love the bowler hats! I think your guide might have been having you on when he said many Bolivians find the ankle to be the most attraction part of a woman, though 🙂
I’m in La Paz right now and I’m noticing that the cholitas’ Skirts fall right below their knees not down to their ankles. Our local guide has a variation on the bowler hat story. The hats were sent for the railway workers but they were given to the children before the women. They wore them just a short time when the women took them and added them to their wardrobe.
I have not seen a young cholita; they have all been elderly and very wide.
Whoa!, those hats look absolutely ridiculous 😉
Interesting to hear the story of how they came to find their way into the Bolivian culture. Traditions passed down without question are always the most bizarre.
So they were tricked into buying hats that do not fit them, and they wear these hats as a sign of pride? They take pride in the fact they were taken advantage of, and show off their how gullible they are by still wearing them? And they buy ones that are too small, even though they could get a hat that fits and functions properly? Interesting…
Great photos!
I’ve just watched Bald and Bankrupt on YouTube, as he visits Bolivia. That’s the nearest I’m going to get, but the people are friendly. Amazing place.
The British sent the hats for their own British railway workers to use. The Bolivians were given and not sold to. This is what I gather from this article.
So why not wear it with Pride. They got lucky due to British idiots
Different perspective 🤔
Where do the Cholitas get the Bowler hats? Who makes them?
hi
Dude, i love these hats!
They are so cool🙂
It’s great to see our fellow natives walking around in style!
More power 2 them !
What a wonderful post concerning cholitas or bowler hats.
Always wondered how these comical hats had become a mainstay of indigenous women.
A classic story of women deciding to make lemon aid from lemons‼️
🦊 Watson