Too many accessories, feathers, or pins added to an otherwise simple hat.
This wasn't just about mean-spiritedness. It was a form of social engineering. In a time of rapid industrialization and shifting class structures in London, the condition of one’s clothing was a key marker of status. A "bad hat" was a visible sign of economic, or at least social, failure. bad hat
"It was a way of enforcing a certain level of appearance," says cultural historian Dr. Elaine Smyth. "By focusing on the hat—the highest, most visible part of the person—the crowd was asserting a shared, albeit cruel, standard of propriety." Too many accessories, feathers, or pins added to