Sir Horace Rumbold, British Ambassador to Berlin, arrives in Berlin in March 1929.
Nothing adds height to a man’s stature quite like the top hat. These tall toppers became fashionable in the 18th and early 19th century, and conveyed a respectable, gentlemanly comportment. They grew to become a symbol of capitalism—think Mr. Monopoly of board game fame—but by the middle of the 20th century had largely faded out of fashion. Though rarely worn today, they still make the occasional splash as a bold fashion statement on the likes of Slash or John Galliano.