Hat etiquette

[EDELWEISS]

Ive taken to wearing a hat on an almost daily basis. I can remember when all gentlemen wore hats all the time. I still have vivid memories of my dad cutting the grass while wearing a fedora. He even had a plastic cover for it in case it rained.
My chosen style is usually something along the lines of this, http://ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.4804428552605119&pid=1.7&w=150&h=150&c=7&rs=1 (http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=rough+rider+hat&FORM=HDRSC2#view=detail&id=96E200272C15F10D67CC3C6CE3E66B1AE72CB30D&selectedIndex=31)its a 1889 Campaign hat (think Rough Riders). I make a point of taking it off when I go inside unlike many guys I see especially those wearing baseball hats. So Im wondering what the actual etiquette is concerning the wearing of hats.

[fidalgoman]

You might be able to find it here. LINK (http://artofmanliness.com/)

[NoBucks]

I was in Red Lobster last night and there were two men wearing baseball caps inside the restaurant. One was a twenty-something with tattoos. The other was seventy years old, at least. I pointed them out to my wife and I said, "I'm not surprised that the tattoo guy is wearing a hat, but that old guy should know better."

One of my favorite scenes from The Sopranos was Tony eating in a fancy restaurant when he catches sight of a guy wearing a baseball cap. He gets up, goes over to the guy, and says, "Hey pal, they don't serve hot dogs here!" The guy replied, "What?" Tony proceeded to educate him on hat etiquette, which included a beating. I don't advocate beating people who don't take off their hats indoors, but my son knows to take off his hat when he's inside a building. Drill sergeants and pushups turned me off to wearing my "cover" indoors.

I have a fedora also, because, those times when I'm wearing a suit and an overcoat, and I need a hat, a baseball cap just seems wrong.

They say that Kennedy was the death of the fedora because he refused to wear one. I fear that Obama is doing the same thing to the necktie.

[EDELWEISS]

I used to be a baseball hat guy. I still have plenty of them, including a Suarez Intn'l one; but nowadays its almost always one of my copies of the 1889 Campaign hats. Its not quite as large as a full brimmed western Stetson or as small as a fedora. I wore one while hunting in Afrika and while shoveling the snow.

I recall an incident when I was a guest at the Officer's Club at Ft Meade, when a young lieutenant "forgot" to remove his hat and was asked to buy a round for everyone present, then he put his hat on the bar and was asked to buy another..... On another occasion, my unit was having a "Dinning In" and another lieutenant had hat issues and was asked to correct it. The last I saw of him, he was being "talked to" by the Colonel.....

[LawDog]

Men should remove any head covering (with a few exceptions, like yarmulkes) any time they are indoors. But "indoors" still has an exception of its own: you can keep your hat on in common areas like hallways, anterooms, and perhaps elevators.

I used to wear real hats, but they don't work well in Alaska. They don't do anything to keep my ears warm, and the wind will rip it right off your head. So I've got a really nice Akubra that just collects dust.

If Obama manages to destroy the tradition of the necktie, then I could no longer say that he is all bad. I often actually like wearing a suit, but I hate ties. I can't fathom how a napkin evolved into a decorative accessory. I pull out the ties for trial, but they are not part of my everyday wear.

I kind of like the "buy a round" penalty. That seems reasonable.

[heavyzee]

I'm glad you brought this up because I'm in a bit of a conundrum. At my private social club (lots of uppity old people and politicians ) we have a new member, who wears his hat everywhere. I mean even into the main dining room which is coat and tie only. Now I have complained to the staff the managers and we have even asked him politely. I'm half ready to pull him in a coat room and whoop his ass, but not really an option.

I guess I should mention he's in the 30-35 range as am I and my group at the club. We have basically shunned him and his wife from "the young crowd" because of the hat thing.

Anyways I'm pissed about it and don't want to make a scene, but I'm at my wits end about this..:angry:..

[borednva]

ill admit i've gotten in a bad habit in regards to my hat. I was always raised to take it off indoors and such but since i started getting a somewhat noticeable receding hairline, at 24 no less, I tend to leave it on.

[Lucky1]

Here's a vedio from The Art of Manliness about wearing hats.

http://community.artofmanliness.com/video/man-up-episode-1-hats

[Nick Randall]

Half the dirtbags I see with hats on, I am glad they have on because they serve as lice containment devices as well.

[choirboy]

Looks like a good site; I subscribed.

When I was a kid, my Church had little spring loaded hat holders for the gents; ladies were expected to keep there head covered. The ushers had a box of these little doillie things to give to any gal who forgot her hat.

Choirboy

[Fredo]

Here's a vedio from The Art of Manliness about wearing hats.

http://community.artofmanliness.com/video/man-up-episode-1-hats

Excellent. Thanks for posting.

[JeffC]

There is an exception to the indoor hat etiquette. It is perfectly acceptable for a "real" cowboy to wear a cowboy hat inside. Not some cowboy wannabe but someone who has the actual job or ranch to go with it. The only time a cowboy removes his hat in in bed.

-jeff

[Pachucko]

There is an exception to the indoor hat etiquette. It is perfectly acceptable for a "real" cowboy to wear a cowboy hat inside. Not some cowboy wannabe but someone who has the actual job or ranch to go with it. The only time a cowboy removes his hat in in bed.

-jeff

Hmmm.... I was surprised when I moved to South Texas to see these guys wear their hats everywhere, people's houses, restaurants, church (in the sanctuary), etc... I just thought it was bad manners.

[John Chambers]

Not in the part of Texas where I grew up! My uncle was a professional rancher and cowboy for more than 40 years and you did not wear your hat in the ranch house, etc. My aunt would not put up with it! :)


There is an exception to the indoor hat etiquette. It is perfectly acceptable for a "real" cowboy to wear a cowboy hat inside. Not some cowboy wannabe but someone who has the actual job or ranch to go with it. The only time a cowboy removes his hat in in bed.

-jeff

[JeffC]

Not in the part of Texas where I grew up! My uncle was a professional rancher and cowboy for more than 40 years and you did not wear your hat in the ranch house, etc. My aunt would not put up with it! :)

You have hit on a universal truth John. One NEVER wins against the mistress of the house. Discretion IS the better part of valor. :biggrin:

-jeff

[gps man]

Roger that Mr Chambers! I grew up in central Texas and one DID NOT wear a hat indoors!

My 90 year old uncle still kicks his grandsons' asses when they don't remove theirs.....it's a never ending battle!

As Lyle Lovett sang "the winds of change have filled the air and you can't set your hat down just anywhere..."

[JeffC]

Well...apparently this is another place where Arizona and Texas have differences. I will remove my hat indoors in Texas, and please feel free to wear yours in Arizona. :cheers:

[paknheat]

The hat comes off indoors. I have a hall tree where they hang. My grand father was a rancher in E. Tx and the hat came off indoors . My old man was the same way.


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[Dr_Dave]

Like dogface i learned to remove my hat in thr Air Force. But every now and then I wear a Slouch hat i recieved from an Aussie friend it's hard to find a place to put it when I'm in a store and need both hands.

[Texican_gal]

Like dogface i learned to remove my hat in thr Air Force. But every now and then I wear a Slouch hat i recieved from an Aussie friend it's hard to find a place to put it when I'm in a store and need both hands.

I don't think men need remove their hats while they are in stores as the store is a public place. Now, if you sit down to lunch in a dining area, then remove the hat. [My opinion only; don't know what the etiquette experts prescribe.]

[TrojanSkyCop1]

Like dogface i learned to remove my hat in thr Air Force. But every now and then I wear a Slouch hat i recieved from an Aussie friend it's hard to find a place to put it when I'm in a store and need both hands.

From one USAF vet to another (and as an FYI to the non-military types reading this thread), let's not forget that servicemembers who are under arms are exempt from having to remove their hats indoors.

Also, it's interesting to see that while Air Force MTIs remove their covers while indoors, Marine Corps DIs keep 'em on--for intimidation reasons vis-a-vis the trainees, I presume?

[WinstonSmith]

I have a hat on right now. Indoors. In my house. (My rules.) Oh the horror. :D

[JeffC]

I have a hat on right now. Indoors. In my house. (My rules.) Oh the horror. :D

Dang you Winston. You rebel!

-jeff

[Pachucko]

I don't think men need remove their hats while they are in stores as the store is a public place. Now, if you sit down to lunch in a dining area, then remove the hat. [My opinion only; don't know what the etiquette experts prescribe.]

Sounds pretty reasonable to me.

[Ride4TheBrand]

It is not uncommon to see men wearing western hats in any building in Texas except where they are expressly forbidden, i.e., court rooms and fine dining establishments. I have worn many a western brim inside and outside restaurants, convenience stores, places of business, at my job ... at other peoples' jobs, and I never get a second look.

One thing is for damn sure ... I don't feel any need to take advice from anyone like that guy in the video that was posted above who has in his vocabulary, and uses the term "douche-nozzle".

[OB-1]

Back in my USAF days those under arms, (armed), were allow to keep their hats on when indoors. This may have changed since that was a long time ago.

[guns68]

One thing is for damn sure ... I don't feel any need to take advice from anyone like that guy in the video that was posted above who has in his vocabulary, and uses the term "douche-nozzle".
I couldn't agree more!
I wear my hats (and I wear hats a lot) in my house, like it was mentioned earlier, my house my rules. I remove my hat at the table or when I am indoors elsewhere... except stores. I have not really thought about it until this thread but I leave my hat on when I'm shopping.
Along with being under arms you also keep covered if you have the colors as well.

[von Clausewitz]

Back in my USAF days those under arms, (armed), were allow to keep their hats on when indoors. This may have changed since that was a long time ago.

No change...armed airmen must still remain covered when indoors...and I assume its all services because I see Marines and Soldiers covered with side arms inside the Pentagon...

[ChuteTheMall]

There is an exception to the indoor hat etiquette. It is perfectly acceptable for a "real" cowboy to wear a cowboy hat inside. Not some cowboy wannabe but someone who has the actual job or ranch to go with it. The only time a cowboy removes his hat in in bed.

-jeff

"real" cowboys aren't allowed indoors.:amish:

[Jon Payne]

That's because it has nothing to grip on to.:duh:
Depends on the situation and location what I do with my hat. Strange thing is that I've noticed since I started shaving my head I wear a hat less and less.

[Ragsbo]

The only place I CAN NOT wear my hat is in church; especially the sanctuary. It just bothers me to much and I have to take it off. Most every where else it doe not bother me. I try to be respectful and take it off when warranted.

Reminds me of a incident I had when the kids were in grade school. I was going in to help one of the kids draw up a poster for drug awareness deal. I was in the office juggling two clip boards trying to sign in the building and sign in for the project so I put my hat back on my head to get it out of the way (it was a camouflage "fedora" type). The female principal started ranting a raving about me having my hat on in the school. I tried to ignore her while I did her stupid paper work but she would not shut up. Finally I told her I would take it off WHEN I GOT A FREE HAND TO DO SO. You would thought I had slapped her. She finally walked off. I thought the secretary would burst out laughing any minute.

I was back in the school later to pick up a sick kid and she ran up to me smiling like a long lost friend. She informed me that it was okay for me to wear my hat (which was in my hand) since it was hat day for some reason. I asked her why she was so dead set against hats in school since we are a rural area and us farm kids wore hats all the time. She said hats were gang related. I asked, oh, then what gang do I belong to? I put my hat on and walked out without waiting for a reply.
She later talked to the Ole Heifer saying that she hoped I wasn't mad at their rules and that I would continue to help the kids. What a dweeb.

[Jarhead90]

My self I'm not really into hats. Parris Island instilled in me that covers (hats) were to be removed when indoors
(with the under arms exeption) everyone 's is different it just irks me a little.

[MikeNV]

I look at it like this... It's just like in tactics: Never say Never and Never say Always. The worst thing is when you want to remove your hat and there's not a safe place to store/hang it, due to the lack of men wearing hats during the last 50 yrs.

If I'm sitting down for dinner the hat comes off.... unless there is no safe place to put it. I pay as much for my hats as most people pay for their handguns...so I'm NOT putting it on the floor.

Don't every touch another man's hat unless you want to fight.... you might as well pinch his wife's behind while you're at it.


Some standard, base-line points of etiquette:


Any time you enter a building, the hat should come off.
If it is an informal occasion you may put it back on but for a formal occasion it should stay off.
When sitting down at a table for a meal, the hat should come off unless there is nowhere to safely lay the hat or your eating outdoors.
When sitting down at a counter for a meal, the hat can stay on same goes for a cowboy bar.
Out on the range however, keep your hat on while you eat. If you take your hat off, another might step on it or spill food into the rim or it could just blow away in the wind.


Now all of the above rules are frequently ignored or modified depending on the locale, the situation, the people etc. So use your best judgment and if in doubt, stick with the above rules or do as "when in Rome"

[NoBucks]

On another note, that sideways baseball cap thing is one of the most idiotic looking thing I have ever seen with regards to headgear.

ALL of my friends have standing permission to slap my son on the back of the head if they see either of two things: 1) His hat on sideways; 2) His pants pulled halfway down his butt and his underpants hanging out. My son knows of this permission and has received one slap when he was goofing around and turned his hat sideways. The unexpected slap knocked propriety to the front of his brain.

[Mayflower]

My self I'm not really into hats. Parris Island instilled in me that covers (hats) were to be removed when indoors
(with the under arms exception) everyone 's is different it just irks me a little.

Similar situation with me... except I went to MP School at Ft. McClellan... We were some of the first to get the 'Ranger style' cap in the new Woodland pattern... Walk into a room without taking off the hat and you would be pushing Alabama for the next 20 minutes!!!

I will admit to leaving on my company logo hat while at work during cold weather... Too much trouble to keep taking it on and off every time I step outside.

[fidalgoman]

Ahhh, social morays are always changing as are taboo's. Hard to know, or even care.

[Sky Pilot]

I can't fathom how a napkin evolved into a decorative accessory. I pull out the ties for trial, but they are not part of my everyday wear.


Neckties were invented as stranglers.
Fact.
When invented, a florid complexion was fashionable.
The necktie was invented to impede venous return at the neck, making the face fashionably red and the wearer uncomfortable.
Not the first truly stupid fashion accessory and certainly not the last, but perhaps one of the least loved!
(Fashion can be a killer. In Colonial times it was fashionable for women to have a pale complexion. They achieved this by drinking vinegar. There is sound speculation that this led to bleeding ulcers, thus the pale complexion.
Another reason to be cautious when considering following the bleating crowd ...)

[TattooedGunner]

Hmmm, so since we're armed, we can keep our hats on inside. Sounds good to me.


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[DonSmithnotTMD]

From one USAF vet to another (and as an FYI to the non-military types reading this thread), let's not forget that servicemembers who are under arms are exempt from having to remove their hats indoors.

Also, it's interesting to see that while Air Force MTIs remove their covers while indoors, Marine Corps DIs keep 'em on--for intimidation reasons vis-a-vis the trainees, I presume?

we did that when I was a drill sergeant, unless we were eating. Some COs do it all the time and we're supposed to if on a standing post. BTW,under arms means service weapon, cartridge belt and ammo.

[P.D.]

... BTW,under arms means service weapon, cartridge belt and ammo.

Um, not quite. Circa 1967 U.S. Army 'under arms' meant as little as having a web belt (aka pistol belt) on, and then the hat stayed on everywhere but in a church or chapel (God being the acknowledge Master).

[Steve Paulson]

In my view whether the hat comes off or not is all about giving vs. commanding respect. When in the presence of something or someone deserving of your respect, remove the hat. If it is your intention to assert dominance and command respect, then leave it on...just be sure you're justified in doing so. People that are not deserving of respect and yet demand it are far more likely to receive exactly the opposite.

[HUMPHREY]

People that are not deserving of respect and yet demand it are far more likely to receive exactly the opposite.

^^^ True words!

[P.D.]

Well said Steve.

[Echo_Four]

... Also, it's interesting to see that while Air Force MTIs remove their covers while indoors, Marine Corps DIs keep 'em on--for intimidation reasons vis-a-vis the trainees, I presume?

Drill Instructors leave the campaign cover on because they are "under arms". It isn't just aboard the recruit depots, but throughout the Marine Corps. When you're the duty NCO you wear a cartridge belt with a large brass buckle. That signifies being under arms so the cover stays on when indoors.

For what it is worth, I violate the hat rule regularly. Unless I'm in church or a nice restaurant the hat stays on my head. I fully acknowledge that it isn't how things should be done, but carrying a hat around is a pain and I've left too many in the booth at Texas Roadhouse to continue taking them off. I justify by telling myself I AM under arms, even if I'm the only one that knows I am.