A cloche hat is a type of women's hat that features a distinctive bell shape and a close-fitting, short-brimmed style - hence the name. These happening hats have been around for more than a century and first became popular all the way back in the 1920s and '30s, when they were primarily made of felt. They were also made of beads or lace for evening wear and in later years, they were made of straw and sisal as well.