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In many old films the men walk around wearing trilby hats. My dad wore one on a Saturday night, but were they really that popular and when did the trend start? Brian Hill, Worthing, West Sussex

The name comes from the George du Maurier novel, which tells the story of a woman, Trilby, who falls under the spell of hypnotist Svengali.WhenTrilby was performed on stage in London in the late 19th century, the heroine wore this style of hat.

It is a type of fedora, only with a narrower brim, often curled at the edge, and a shorter crown, and the early versions were made from rabbit fur felt.

Fedoras caught on after Prince EdwardVIII was pictured wearing one in America in 1924 and they gradually replaced top hats and bowlers – they were certainly more practical when it came to getting in and out of cars.

You were more likely to see trilbies in the English countryside and at the racetrack and they grew in popularity in the 1950s, peaking in the 1960s, with comedian Tony Hancock known for his suede version and Frank Sinatra wearing his tipped back on his head at an angle.

Fedoras also have a somewhat theatrical background.They were named after the French play, Fédora, which, in 1882, saw the French actress Sarah Bernhardt wowing the crowds with her costumes, inspiring a whole new style of clothing, with blouses, vests, slippers and neckties all given the fedora moniker.