An incomplete taxonomy of Andean hats

Many, many, many different styles of hat are worn by the local people in the Andes, mostly by women. Please find below an amateur hat-fancier´s notes:

The "Marco the Horseman": White, ten-gallon cowboy style with Incan rainbow band tied around the head. As worn by a handsome horseman named Marco at the Lares valley chicha bar.

The "Alejandro": Dome-shaped head with round, medium circumference brim with down-turned edges. Decorated with rainbow band around the head and 3-4 inch tassels on each side.

The "Tablecloth": Flat and round on top, decorated with stitched or woven floral patterns. Plain black cloth hangs over the edge like a tablecloth.

The "Mestiza": White top-hat style with wide round brim and understated dark band. Worn, according to a tour guide, by the woman seeking a middle ground between traditional and modern fashion.

The "Flower Bowl":bowl-shaped, worn on a jaunty angle on the head with the bowl sides turned upwards. Decorated colourfully with fresh flowers, particularly if the wearer is single.

The "Weaver's Choice": dome-shaped, with wide round brim turned up at the sides. Decorated on top with colourful pieces of fabric in many patterns. These pieces are cut at the ends into tiny triangles that protrude over the side of the hat, as if it requires a defensive wall against some unknown hat-invading race.

The "Cruz del Condor Vendor": a beautifully woven hat, mainly white but with bright colours (blue, purple, pink, red) in intricate patterns. Brim is pinned up at the back and angles down at the front like a bonnet. First seen worn by vendors at the Cruz del Condor lookout at Colca Canyon (or valley or whatever it is).

The "Proud Mary" or "Showboat": White with round brim. Brim is plain, but headpiece is completely covered by a band made of small sequins and shiny bits and pieces (this hat provides strong evidence that all Demtel's left over Bedazzlers ended up in Peru) in pastel pinks, purples and blues. Set of with a large round bow on one side, giving the appearance of an old river steam boat. Given two names, one for Creedence fans and one for others.

The "AB" (or "Allan Border"): beanie made af alpaca (Alpaca Beanie = AB) with triangular earpieces and two ties (for under chin) with small pom-poms on each. Very decorative and bright, woven with patterns of pumas, llamas, condors, etc. A man wearing a bright pink one was seen at a Lares Valley work site; one shudders to think of the fate of a man arriving to an Australian work site in a pink beanie.

The "Midget Chaplin": rounded top with circular brim whose edges curl upwards. Too small to fit on head so sits precariously high above the hair. Does not seem to fly off in high winds although the fastening mechanism remains mysterious to the author. Provides zero sun protection.

The "Indiana Jones": similar to that worn by the eponymous action hero and now by the author, who walks around thinking he looks pretty intrepid but then slips into some prickles and has to take it off and turn away so as not to soil the Indiana legend by being seen to cry while wearing the hat.