Gilmore Girls was one of the few shows on television that featured discernible changes in season. And with the change in seasons come hats. Many, many hats.
There were knitted winter hats, topped with pom-poms or arbitrarily placed flowers. There were bucket hats that looked at home both on Lorelai’s head and on a baby at the beach. There were multiple newsboy caps, though not a newsboy in sight.
But across the variety of shapes, patterns and textures, they all had one thing in common: they were terrible. Here is our tribute — may these stay back in the mid-2000s where they belong.
Season 1, episode 1
Already off to a great start with this knitted cap.
Season 1, episode 3
Rory’s golf hat, with multiple contrasting colors.
Season 1, episode 7
We’re thankful for this pilgrim-chic moment.
Season 1, episode 8
We’ll accept this cozy navy cap.
Season 1, episode 10
We will not, however, accept this bulky striped cap.
Season 1, episode 11
This hat is too small for Lorelai’s head.
Season 1, episode 13
Which animals were harmed in the making of this hat?
Another day, another winter cap.
Season 2, episode 2
This fake veil goes well with Lorelai’s fake pearls.
Rory’s brief stint in the world of construction.
Season 2, episode 4
Back when we all had to pretend that they were going to let Rory leave the show and go to Harvard.
Season 2, episode 9
Rory takes historical accuracy seriously.
Season 2, episode 10
Two hats you definitely bought from the Gap in 2002.
This is fine.
This hat is not fine.
Season 2, episode 11
Still not fine.
Season 2, episode 15
Ugh, the hat from episode 10 returns.
Season 2, episode 21
Rory missed this important hat moment due to a sudden impulse to see Jess. This did not work out in the long term.
Season 3, episode 1
Bucket. Hat.
Season 3, episode 10
Surprised by Rory’s lack of hat.
Season 3, episode 11
Jess is pro-hat.
Safety first.
The Gilmore Girls costume department had a wide variety of matching hat-scarf sets.
Knitted flowers. 🙁
Season 3, episode 12
The beginning of Lorelai’s love affair with newsboy caps.
Rory envying Lane’s double pom-pom cap.
Lorelai’s brief but memorable time as an amateur fisherman.
Season 3, episode 13
Both sitting inside, and yet, both wearing scarves.
Rory’s first hat.
Season 3, episode 14
Lorelai, it is nighttime. Why?
Season 3, episode 19
Another episode, another newsboy cap.
Season 3, episode 20
Lorelai loves a funeral hat.
Season 3, episode 22
Congrats, girl.
Season 4, episode 1
A Photoshopped hat is a hat all the same.
Season 4, episode 7
Lorelai channeling the Renoir girl.
Season 4, episode 10
All about that cerulean.
Rory’s homemade hat pales in comparison to Paris’ newspaper flower.
Season 4, episode 11
Double berets at Stan’s funeral.
Lorelai’s most questionable hat of the series.
Season 4, episode 13
Where did Lorelai acquire this skeevy trucker girl hat and why?
Season 4, episode 14
Rory finally accepts her Yale fate.
Lorelai’s Bon Jovi hat.
Season 4, episode 15
Rory enabling Emily destructive department store binge shopping session.
Season 4, episode 17
Rory visibly questioning why she has so many lavender winter hats.
Season 4, episode 21
Ok, Lorelai. You look good here. We’ll accept this.
Season 5, episode 4
Lorelai’s celebration of the American voting process.
Season 5, episode 6
Cowboy hats and Slurpee runs.
Season 5, episode 8
French maid chic.
The moment Dean realizes Rory and her diamond tiara are too fancy for him.
Season 5, episode 11
Another fine hat.
Season 5, episode 15
How many wool caps can one have?
Rory channeling Duck Soup.
Season 6, episode 1
Rory in her new role as yacht stealer/hardened criminal.
Season 6, episode 5
A hat that can barely contain the hair.
Season 6, episode 8
“L” is for Lorelai.
Season 6, episode 11
Newly 21-year-old Rory in Atlantic City swag.
Real veil this time, still no marriage.
Season 6, episode 12
Another fine hat.
Paris’ power trip in the form of numbered hats.
Season 6, episode 13
Why would someone do this?
Season 6, episode 15
Sookie’s hat is the winner here.
Season 6, episode 19
Matching tiaras for Lane’s bachelorette party.
Season 6, episode 22
A great wig.
Season 7, episode 11
We’ll accept this classic grey cap.
Season 7, episode 14
Pulling out the pink hat from Season 3, episode 13.
Season 7, episode 16
The thin purple scarf is the real offender here.
Season 7, episode 21
Congrats on your final hat, Rory.
Thank you for joining us on this journey.
This article was originally published in 2016.