All You Need to Know About Hat Etiquette

[EggHead]

Eating at a restaurant in 1906. Both ladies and gentlemen have their hats on.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/objec...ures/2010/12/07/dd-sfeats09_ph_0502649305.jpg

 

[scottyrocks]

Eating at a restaurant in 1906. Both ladies and gentlemen have their hats on.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/objec...ures/2010/12/07/dd-sfeats09_ph_0502649305.jpg

Theyre also outside.

 

[danofarlington]

Eating at a restaurant in 1906. Both ladies and gentlemen have their hats on.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/objec...ures/2010/12/07/dd-sfeats09_ph_0502649305.jpg

And it's a darn shame that no one was around to tell them that they can't do that! Where were the etiquette police? No wonder they had an earthquake there.

 

[anon`]

Theyre also outside.

And at a counter.

 

[Bebop]

I know many of us were taught to take our hats off when indoors (I had my first black eye from a drill sergeant in a mess hall due to my lack of hat etiquette) and the whole wacky hat tipping thing and so forth but I see no logical reason to take a hat off for any reason that has to do with manners or etiquette. It's just one of those things people think is proper for no logical reason whatsoever so when someone keeps their hat on in a restaurant, I give them a break. I am starting to realize that if it bothers me, there is something wrong with me. "Just because" is not a good enough reason to take my hat off.

 

[Richard Warren]

One wonders whether a reluctance to remove the hat on the part of certain persons is related to the reason they wear a hat in the first place.

 

[Jedwbpm]

I think when it comes to Hat Etiquette we may need to update it. Since hats are not worn as much as they once were many places to not have proper places to store a hat when one is out and about. Same thing for peoples homes not many have a place to put a hat when visiting. Any thoughts?

 

[monbla256]

I know many of us were taught to take our hats off when indoors (I had my first black eye from a drill sergeant in a mess hall due to my lack of hat etiquette) and the whole wacky hat tipping thing and so forth but I see no logical reason to take a hat off for any reason that has to do with manners or etiquette. It's just one of those things people think is proper for no logical reason whatsoever so when someone keeps their hat on in a restaurant, I give them a break. I am starting to realize that if it bothers me, there is something wrong with me. "Just because" is not a good enough reason to take my hat off.

That sounds just fine with me. Using your logic AND reasons, we need to just DO AWAY with ANY form of rules of behavior in our society's and just let folks do as they FEEL As Nike says: "Just Do it" Besides, having ANY form of rules of behavior infringes on my personal rights. That's TOTALLY UN-ACCEPTABLE

 

[EggHead]

I think the hat-off-indoors rule came about in medieval times when a warrior (knight or otherwise) took his helmet off to show that he is not threatening the host. Since ladies were not considered a threat (at that time), they were not required to take their head gear off, hence, now ladies don't have to or in some cases should have their head covered.

 

[Pompidou]

That sounds just fine with me. Using your logic AND reasons, we need to just DO AWAY with ANY form of rules of behavior in our society's and just let folks do as they FEEL As Nike says: "Just Do it" Besides, having ANY form of rules of behavior infringes on my personal rights. That's TOTALLY UN-ACCEPTABLE

I think the best way to go is to use good judgement when it comes to picking which rules to follow. Blindly disapproving of any and all rules just because they're rules is just as bad as following any and all rules just because they're rules. When I enter a building, I make a separate decision each and every time as to whether or not taking my hat off is a good idea or not, and there are many factors that go into the decision. Some factors include, the class of the establishment, the safety of my hat (McDonalds isn't worth my hat removal, but Todd English's Tuscany is), how long I'm staying (no need encumbering my hands for a quick hop inside), why I'm going (I'll remove it for a date), etc. It's never cut and dry. There are a lot of really useless rules, but a lot of valid ones as well, so I just make sure I'm not blindly obeying for the hell of it, nor blindly disobeying out of some belief that anyone would care how rebellious I am.

 

[DRB]

I know many of us were taught to take our hats off when indoors (I had my first black eye from a drill sergeant in a mess hall due to my lack of hat etiquette) and the whole wacky hat tipping thing and so forth but I see no logical reason to take a hat off for any reason that has to do with manners or etiquette. It's just one of those things people think is proper for no logical reason whatsoever so when someone keeps their hat on in a restaurant, I give them a break. I am starting to realize that if it bothers me, there is something wrong with me. "Just because" is not a good enough reason to take my hat off.

In Vermont EVERYONE (even some women) keep their ball caps on at dinner restaurants. I used to take my fedora off, but now I only take it off if I am at a nice restaurant.

 

[Blackthorn]

I think when it comes to Hat Etiquette we may need to update it. Since hats are not worn as much as they once were many places to not have proper places to store a hat when one is out and about. Same thing for peoples homes not many have a place to put a hat when visiting. Any thoughts?

I think you're right on the money, Jed. The society where men were required to take off their hats when entering a building, also provided safe places to put them. Now that our society no longer does that, we shouldn't be required to adhere to archaic rules. And I don't take mine off anywhere except church.

 

[monbla256]

I think you're right on the money, Jed. The society where men were required to take off their hats when entering a building, also provided safe places to put them. Now that our society no longer does that, we shouldn't be required to adhere to archaic rules. And I don't take mine off anywhere except church.

Don't go into a courtroom down here in Tarrant or Dallas County Texas with your hat on. It'll cost ya! Watched a judge charge a bubba who walked in with his Resistol on his head get a $200.00 fine for Contempt of Court last year Most of the Sherrif's and other Law officers wear their hats in the lobby and elevators of the courthouses and take 'em off when they get to the halls of the courtrooms.

 

[Blackthorn]

Don't go into a courtroom down here in Tarrant or Dallas County Texas with your hat on. It'll cost ya! Watched a judge charge a bubba who walked in with his Resistol on his head get a $200.00 fine for Contempt of Court last year Most of the Sherrif's and other Law officers wear their hats in the lobby and elevators of the courthouses and take 'em off when they get to the halls of the courtrooms.

Let's see....Tarrant or Dallas counties, inside the courtrooms. OK, thanks, I have those two on my list now. Whew, that was close!

 

[monbla256]

Thanks... reminds me of why I don't go out to California

 

[Blackthorn]

Thanks... reminds me of why I don't go out to California

Just having a bit of fun with you, monbla256. I found it humorous that you were warning me to stay out of courtrooms 1,000 miles from me, and had to have some fun with it. No harm intended.

 

[Zombie_61]

Holy Crimony! Six years later and this is still being added to?! :eusa_clap

And yet, even in this intelligent and courteous group, it seems we still haven't come up with a definitive hat etiquette do's and don'ts list that everyone can agree with; the basics, maybe, but the "finer points" and unique circumstances are apparently still open for debate.

And we're not alone. This might be old news, but here's a Wall Street Journal article from August discussing the same subject.

 

[scottyrocks]

One wonders whether a reluctance to remove the hat on the part of certain persons is related to the reason they wear a hat in the first place.

It is for me, sometimes. If a building is on the chilly side, I leave my hat on. I dont have a whole lotta hair and lose body heat from the old pate. When the weather gets like this, I look at bald(ing) men out of doors with no head covering and wonder.

 

[monbla256]

Just having a bit of fun with you, monbla256. I found it humorous that you were warning me to stay out of courtrooms 1,000 miles from me, and had to have some fun with it. No harm intended.

No Prob But I do feel that this is indicative of something many of us here in the U.S. have lamented about in a bigger scale, the demise and disapearance of respect for each other these days. It's a somewhat silly, maybe not even needed old "rule" for sure, but it was part of something we used to call "manners" our way of treating people with a modicome of respect. I rank it alongside of using "sir" or "m'am" when responding to a stranger. My momma used to call it "manners" and I guess I'm just an old Southern foggy who still believes in 'em Onward thru the fog !

 

[Blackthorn]

No Prob But I do feel that this is indicative of something many of us here in the U.S. have lamented about in a bigger scale, the demise and disapearance of respect for each other these days. It's a somewhat silly, maybe not even needed old "rule" for sure, but it was part of something we used to call "manners" our way of treating people with a modicome of respect. I rank it alongside of using "sir" or "m'am" when responding to a stranger. My momma used to call it "manners" and I guess I'm just an old Southern foggy who still believes in 'em Onward thru the fog !

I lament all those same things, monbla256, but taking steps to keep my hat from getting sat on, or getting coffee spilled on it, isn't a sign of disrespect to anyone around me. It's good common sense. Yes, it was indeed considered good manners when I was born, but as our friend above mentioned, in those days society provided ways of keeping your hat in good shape. But now society has evolved (?) to a point where if you take it off, you have no place to put it other than your lap or a chair next to you. And a $300 (or more) hat can get ruined in a heartbeat like that.