Post by revs on Apr 8, 2014 12:53:14 GMT -8
Quick lesson for everyone else from the Art of Manliness website
As far as when to wear a hat/what hat to wear, here are some pretty basic guidelines:
Fedoras (I'll just lump all dress hats in here): Wear 'em with your suit. If you're not wearing a suit (or at least a top coat over a nice sweater and shirt & tie), you're too casual to wear a dress hat. This results in most people who wear a fedora looking, as you put it, "hipsterish". Kind of like wearing black dress shoes with jeans (fedora with casual button-down/slacks) or black dress shoes with sweats (fedora with t-shirt and jeans). If you're just wearing a normal casual outfit (OCBD shirt/khakis, let's say), then it seems to be pretty acceptable to wear an ultra-narrow brimmed fedora (these are the kind that are popping up at Wal-Marts and dep't. stores the last couple years), but stick with a more casual fedora (i.e., not a nice, black, felt hat, this is where a soft tweed fedora with a small brim might come in handy) or a more casual type of hat altogether (like a flat cap, or, if it's spring/summer, a panama/boater, or any type of light, straw/woven hat).
As far as flat caps (A.K.A driving caps, ivy caps, newsboy caps, golf hats, cabbie hats, cheese cutters*), you'll look a bit hipsterish/"edgy" if you're wearing a t-shirt. These are my favorite type of hat (a good one is super comfy and looks great on my odd head), but they often have streetwear association (esp. when worn backwards) or punk/skin/edgy-try-hard association (esp. if worn with a graphic tee or work shirt, Docs, and/or suspenders/braces).
Baseball cap: If you're playing baseball, this is what you should probably wear. Going to a game? Sure. Wearing a suit? You can, and many do, but it's not a "classy" or "gentleman" look. If you're trying to stay away from the frat boy/bro look, leave ball caps for fishing or going to a ball game. Wear it while you sit on your porch and smoke a pipe while listening to your team crack some bats over the radio.
As far as when to wear a hat, it used to be inappropriate for a man to go out-of-doors without a hat on. Now, aside from inclement weather situations, it seems more the norm to go hatless. The rule is generally: outside-don your hat. Inside-take it off.
Fun parts: A sporting event is generally considered "outdoors", even if you're at an indoor arena (if it's an outdoor sport such as football or baseball, for example). Airports/bus & train depots/etc are considered outdoors, even when you're indoors there.
If you're eating or sitting down with someone, take off the hat. Doff the cap to a lady as you're introducing yourself.
Generally, taking off your hat is a sign of respect. You're supposed to take it off when you enter a building out of respect for the present company.
As far as where to put it, if you're sitting down to dinner, there ought to be a coat rack where you can hang your coat/hat. This is often not the case, so I can't help you much there, except to say, when hosting people, make sure you offer to take their hats and coats and put them somewhere that people won't mess with them.
As far as when to wear a hat/what hat to wear, here are some pretty basic guidelines:
Fedoras (I'll just lump all dress hats in here): Wear 'em with your suit. If you're not wearing a suit (or at least a top coat over a nice sweater and shirt & tie), you're too casual to wear a dress hat. This results in most people who wear a fedora looking, as you put it, "hipsterish". Kind of like wearing black dress shoes with jeans (fedora with casual button-down/slacks) or black dress shoes with sweats (fedora with t-shirt and jeans). If you're just wearing a normal casual outfit (OCBD shirt/khakis, let's say), then it seems to be pretty acceptable to wear an ultra-narrow brimmed fedora (these are the kind that are popping up at Wal-Marts and dep't. stores the last couple years), but stick with a more casual fedora (i.e., not a nice, black, felt hat, this is where a soft tweed fedora with a small brim might come in handy) or a more casual type of hat altogether (like a flat cap, or, if it's spring/summer, a panama/boater, or any type of light, straw/woven hat).
As far as flat caps (A.K.A driving caps, ivy caps, newsboy caps, golf hats, cabbie hats, cheese cutters*), you'll look a bit hipsterish/"edgy" if you're wearing a t-shirt. These are my favorite type of hat (a good one is super comfy and looks great on my odd head), but they often have streetwear association (esp. when worn backwards) or punk/skin/edgy-try-hard association (esp. if worn with a graphic tee or work shirt, Docs, and/or suspenders/braces).
Baseball cap: If you're playing baseball, this is what you should probably wear. Going to a game? Sure. Wearing a suit? You can, and many do, but it's not a "classy" or "gentleman" look. If you're trying to stay away from the frat boy/bro look, leave ball caps for fishing or going to a ball game. Wear it while you sit on your porch and smoke a pipe while listening to your team crack some bats over the radio.
As far as when to wear a hat, it used to be inappropriate for a man to go out-of-doors without a hat on. Now, aside from inclement weather situations, it seems more the norm to go hatless. The rule is generally: outside-don your hat. Inside-take it off.
Fun parts: A sporting event is generally considered "outdoors", even if you're at an indoor arena (if it's an outdoor sport such as football or baseball, for example). Airports/bus & train depots/etc are considered outdoors, even when you're indoors there.
If you're eating or sitting down with someone, take off the hat. Doff the cap to a lady as you're introducing yourself.
Generally, taking off your hat is a sign of respect. You're supposed to take it off when you enter a building out of respect for the present company.
As far as where to put it, if you're sitting down to dinner, there ought to be a coat rack where you can hang your coat/hat. This is often not the case, so I can't help you much there, except to say, when hosting people, make sure you offer to take their hats and coats and put them somewhere that people won't mess with them.