Attire is often created with purely practical reasons in mind, and yet somehow becomes a fashion statement somewhere along the line. Levi jeans, combat boots, even the t-shirt were not designed to be trendy, they were designed in a previous era simply because they were useful. And for members of the French Foreign Legion, their distinctive caps, known as camel hats, were designed with one thing in mind, to protect the wearer’s head and neck from the blistering sun in the desert. No fashionable forethought required.

Then, along came a music video in the 80s, featuring the singer of The Clash, Mick Jones, sporting this headwear from a bygone era, and soon young fans were clamoring for their own camel hats. Much like a painters cap on top, with a round crown and flat bill, it was the two rectangular flaps hanging from the back that had long protected the French from the desert elements and served to do the same for millions of young concert goers braving the sun. Sly marketers realized that these flaps also provided some prime marketing real estate, and soon the caps were adorned with everything from product advertisements to Pink Floyd prisms, Led Zeppelin logos, and anything else that might look cool on the head of a young rock concert attendee or beach bum.

Like most fads, the camel hat would eventually lose its trendy appeal, but it never really outgrew its usefulness – making it a prime candidate for a future fashion comeback. And until then, it remains a simple and practical way to protect oneself from those unforgiving UV rays - no Pink Floyd prism required.