HAT ATTACK
The straw, brimmed titfer is another classic wearable plucked from the Ivy League canon that remains relevant today. However it’s not the most chess relevant accessory – probably gloves win in that regard – but I guess if you’re playing a game in some sunny summery locale they will serve a function handsomely. Headwear does feature prominently in chess, with crowns and mitre serving to denote the three most significant pieces on each side of the board. And in The Queen’s Gambit the costume designer Gabriele Binder very skilfully echoed the eventual ascent of protagonist Beth Harmon from pawn to Queen via headwear. As perhaps you can tell, this is a pushing of textual pieces around the board until enough of it has been filled to gracefully resign.