Opera hat which means hat, and "claque", which means "tap" or "click". The "chapeau claque" is thus a hat that folds with a click, and unfolds likewise. In English the hat model is usually referred to as a "collapsible top-hat", "gibus" or more often "opera hat"- The construction may originally have been inspired by an historical hat model called "chapeau bras" ("arm hat"), made as bicorne or tricorne to be carried folded under the arm On May 5, 1812, a London hatter called Thomas Francis Dollman patented a design for "an elastic round hat" supported by ribs and springs. His patent was
Top Hat, White Tie and Tails of trousers. In the 1995 film Batman Forever, the character Edward Nigma sings a brief parody of "Top Hat, White Tie, and Tails" using the lyrics "I'm, sucking up your I.Q., vacuuming your cortex, feeding of your brain." The song makes an appearance of the 2000 film "Billy Elliot". Top Hat, White Tie and Tails "Top Hat, White Tie and Tails" is a popular song written by Irving Berlin for the 1935 film "Top Hat", where it was introduced by Fred Astaire. The song title refers to the formal wear required on a party invitation: top hat, white tie, and