This is the Kissing to Be Cleaver album cover worn black beaver fur, Hasidic, Samet short-curved brim hat designed by Crown Hats, from the Collection of Boy George. This hat was worn by Boy George for Culture Club's first album Kissing to be Clever released in 1982, the second album, Colour by Numbers, released October 10, 1983, and on a third album cover The Martyr Mantras released in 1991. The hat is synonymous with Boy George's image and how he styled himself in the early 1980s. 

The hat was worn throughout the “Do You Really Want Hurt Me” music video the third single released by the band and it became a world wide charting single, #1 in the U.K. and #2 on the U.S. Billboard chart. The hit song was written as an emotional outlet about Boy George's relationship with Jon Moss, Culture Club drummer. The hat has sentimental value as it was a gift from Moss, who is Jewish. Boy George said in an interview with Julien's Auctions, “it's lived quit a life that hat.”

In an interview with Smooth Radio, Boy George explains how the song was also about social ignorance, saying, “the story was about me being rejected everywhere I went.” 

The design is Hasidic Samet hat with short, curved brim with grosgrain trim. 

The hat was styled with custom Dexter Wong designs, a screen-printed dress shirt was worn with the hat on Kissing to Be Clever, and a two-piece pink applique ensemble for the cover of Colour by Numbers album. This hat was worn frequently by Boy George in 1982 and 1983. 

It was the members varied background that led to the group's name, Boy George is Irish Catholic, Jon Moss is Jewish, Mikey Craig is from the Caribbean, and Roy Hay is English. 

Boy George created his own style in the 1980s, differentiating himself and the members from other bands like Duran Duran. 

In an interview with Julien's auctions Boy George speaks on how costume and performance are symbiotic, “You always remember what they (musicians) are wearing as much as what they are singing. And if the two things collide beautifully, then that's amazing.” The originality gives the song, performance, and the musician's presence context that is specific to them and the moment they've created. 

Culture Club's Colour by Numbers album was released on October 10, 1983. The record sold over 10 million copies, charting at #1 in the U.K. and #2 in the U.S. on the Billboard 200. Boy George when he appeared on the U.K. show The Tube, speaking about the band's second album, he explained, “The next album is going to prove that we’re very musical. It’s a lot more mature and sophisticated… We work very closely with [producer] Steve Levine, who is almost the fifth member of Culture Club.” 

Provenance: From the Collection of Boy George

A portion of the proceeds will go to benefit MusiCares.This lot/property comes with a printed photo.

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