All You Need to Know About Hat Etiquette

[DOUGLAS]

If there is no place to put your hat at a table then it goes onto your lap and you stay uncomfortable.For me putting your hat on a table wear people eat is the same as putting your feet up on the table. Creating a code for yourself to live by is not easy and sometimes it will be a burden or a nusance but one must press on.
While at a bar I will keep my hat on if I am standing or sitting on a stool. This is an area where most patrons are relaxed and winding down.Tipping your hat and giving up your stool or place at the bar for a woman is still good form.
Just my two cents gents

 

[John in Covina]

Portable hat hook!

Here is an idea for the group. There is a place that makes this clamp device that clamps to the table and will hold a ladies purse or pocketbook.

It seems to me it may be posible to come up with a small springy clamp that would have a hat hook, you pop it onto the edge of the table and hang your hat there. Of course using it as long as it is out of the way and not too difficult to bring with.

The best designs are usually simple and i imagine we could come up with something.

 

[DOUGLAS]

Not a bad idea John. There must be something that can be made. Perhaps a strap or hook so that your hat can be placed under your seat with out being on the floor. Some of the older restaurants had chairs with a shelf under it, I have also seen chairs with cross supports that are eight to ten inches apart and I have rested my hat on that. I have seen but not often tables with hooks on the underside to acccomadate hats or bags.

 

[Snrbfshn]

Hanging your hat...

With the disappearance of hatracks and hatchecks, I have struggled with what to do with my hats at restaurants and meeting places. Inspired by an apparatus that (I think) JP showed, I've begun making and using hat hangers. Made with a felt-friendly clip, here's what they look like:
http://new.photos.yahoo.com/jtban1/album/576460762329105319/photo/294928803404074060/0
Most places there's usually something from which to hang it, or it's easy to loop it around the back of your chair.

 

[scotrace]

The Gorsuch Catalog.

Gorsuch has a solution:

(Typically for this company, it's priced in fantasyland - $188 for little more than a $6 dog leash.)

 

[Feraud]

Gorsuch has a solution:

(Typically for this company, it's priced in fantasyland - $188 for little more than a $6 dog leash.)

The leash costs more than the knit cap. [huh]

 

[Riposte3]

Otherwise, I enjoy your simple and straightforward guide.

Thank you. Simple and straightforward is exactly what I'm trying for, maybe it will spread via the net and people will actually use it because of the simplicity.

If there is no place to put your hat at a table then it goes onto your lap and you stay uncomfortable.For me putting your hat on a table wear people eat is the same as putting your feet up on the table. Creating a code for yourself to live by is not easy and sometimes it will be a burden or a nusance but one must press on.
While at a bar I will keep my hat on if I am standing or sitting on a stool. This is an area where most patrons are relaxed and winding down.Tipping your hat and giving up your stool or place at the bar for a woman is still good form.
Just my two cents gents

The lap is a good idea, though I feel that it's not always a viable option. If I'm ordering something messy like a chili cheeseburger, or a sandwich that comes out of the kitchen dripping juices or sauce, I'm not going to put my hat in the way of that kind of permanent damage.

My point of view on this is that just as a gentleman has an obligation under the rules of etiquette to remove his hat at the table, a restaurant has an obligation under those same rules to accommodate this. Although the restaurant's failure to meet this obligation does not relieve the gentleman of his responsibility, it does mitigate it somewhat, and allows exceptions for reasons of practicality.

Hooks are cheap, easy to install, and a one time expense. I may accept some inconvenience and discomfort, but I'm not going to risk damage to my property that is difficult to replace because someone else didn't meet their obligations.

I did forget to address bars and counters, though. I'll add that in soon.

Several good points, and I will update the guide soon to reflect them. Thank you.

------
FYI for all, currently under construction - Cell Phone Etiquette. When I finish that section, I'll post a notice; probably in the Observation Bar, unless someone suggests a better place.

-Jake

 

[shoeshineboy]

We had dinner at Applebee's the other evening , the table was full and I couldn't put my hat on the seat next to me....

I asked my waitress...to assist me, which she did with a smile...and she came back and told me where she put it and i noticed here telling the manager, too....

yes she did compliment me on the hat and yes i did tip here.... =)

mark the shoeshine boy

 

[shoeshineboy]

what about the ladies

A good question just came up....

what about the ladies and thier hats...during the National Anthem and other situations...

Thanks in advance....


mark tssb

 

[Riposte3]

A good question just came up....

what about the ladies and thier hats...during the National Anthem and other situations...

Thanks in advance....


mark tssb

Under the classic rules, women are exempted if it's a ladies' formal hat (i.e. trailing ribbons, bows, flowers, veil, etc.) If she's wearing a men's or generic hat (fedora, ball cap, etc.) she is subject to the same rules as the men.

The exemption comes from most ladies' hats normally being elaborate and/or needing to be held on with hat pins. Removing and replacing them can be difficult, and often requires a mirror.

Another area to add to my guide.

-Jake

 

[Marc Chevalier]

I think that when chili cheeseburgers are in the mix, common sense is best. DON'T take your hat off if there's a danger of staining it with your food. This includes drops of chili falling into your (hatted) lap, and chili-stained fingers putting the hat back on your head. If you're going to be eating messy stuff with your hands, then either be sure that you can put the hat well away, or just keep it on your head. Lap, no!

.

 

[John in Covina]

It's OK I have protection!

Marc!
:essen:
From your chili description I had envisioned using those stretchy elastic banded plastic hat covers the state police use on their hats when it rains!

 

[Marc Chevalier]

You know, that's a pretty good idea!


.

 

[Honey Doll]

I'd agree

Under the classic rules, women are exempted if it's a ladies' formal hat (i.e. trailing ribbons, bows, flowers, veil, etc.) If she's wearing a men's or generic hat (fedora, ball cap, etc.) she is subject to the same rules as the men.

The exemption comes from most ladies' hats normally being elaborate and/or needing to be held on with hat pins. Removing and replacing them can be difficult, and often requires a mirror.

Another area to add to my guide.

-Jake

If I am wearing a hat, effort likely went into incorporating it into the hairdo and I'm not likely to take it off unless I am staying for a visit or settled into the office. I wear my hat through dinner, movies and ballgames. If I've committed a faux pas in doing so, I've enjoyed charitable company who have not brought it to my attention.

Honey Doll

 

[Marc Chevalier]

I wear my hat through dinner, movies and ballgames. If I've committed a faux pas in doing so, ...

If your hat is blocking the view of the moviegoer or playgoer behind you, then you really should (and I'm sure you would ) take it off.

.

 

[Honey Doll]

Naturally.....

If your hat is blocking the view of the moviegoer or playgoer behind you, then you really should (and I'm sure you would ) take it off.

.

Honey Doll

 

[Riposte3]

If I am wearing a hat, effort likely went into incorporating it into the hairdo and I'm not likely to take it off unless I am staying for a visit or settled into the office. I wear my hat through dinner, movies and ballgames. If I've committed a faux pas in doing so, I've enjoyed charitable company who have not brought it to my attention.

Nope! No faux pas there! Incorporating it into the hairdo is yet another reason for the exception. The simple rule of thumb? If a lady can't just casually remove and replace it, she can leave it on, unless in a theater or similar situation when it is blocking someone's view.

-Jake

 

[Riposte3]

The hats section on my etiquette page has been updated.

As always, comments, suggestions, and constructive criticisms are welcome.

-Jake

 

[shoeshineboy]

i stepped into the parts department and got the Indy Jones jokes....as I casually took my hat off and laughed with them....i told them how good they looked in thier dodge jeep hats...

after telling them what i needed....i asked them, if they noticed that at the world series that the announcer had to tell the Gentlemen to take off thier caps....

I said a gentlemen don't need to be told to take off thier hats !!! Only the stupid cap wearers that don't have enough sense to take thier caps off in a good resturant or thier mothers funerals had to be told. !!!

One of the mechanics (my age, too) laughed and said his head would have been taken off if he stepped in the house too far with a hat or at the supper table...and especially in the military....

Those parts guys and mechanics laughed at all of us and agreed...perhaps somebody learned a lesson...

maybe you had to be there...but you get the picture....

mark the shoeshine boy

 

[BegintheBeguine]

My dad and I had to constantly remind my husband to remove his baseball cap while seated to eat with us. It is true, we'd rather have his stank greasy hair to contend with. Now that hubby is in the Army, he's left all of his baseball caps back home. Back then, I asked him if he kept his cap on at the poker table in the casino. The answer: Yes, unless rules forbade it.
If I'm wearing a saucy little or cowgirl hat while I'm out, I will keep it on unless it gets in the way of anything like sitting in a high backed easy chair (I am short) or hugging people where it would get knocked off. I took my hat off during the reception for my dad's memorial service last month because of all the hugging. I didn't want it to fall or get knocked off and create an embarrassing moment for the hugger.